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Genesis Career College-Cookeville

Cookeville, Tennessee · Private for-profit career college

Nail technician schoolsEsthetician schoolsBarber schoolsMassage therapy schoolsCosmetology schoolsDental assistant schoolsMedical assistant programs
54%completion rate · Tennessee avg 64%
$6,343median debt of graduates
$19,435median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$22,652median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$15,788annual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education (Accredited)
Address: 880-A East 10th Street, Cookeville, TN 38501 · Phone: (470) 259-4514 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
Sanction on record, not yet lifted — Jun 2024 · Warning or Equivalent-Factors Affecting Academic Quality · Council on Occupational Education.
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

Genesis Career College-Cookeville is a private for-profit trade school in Cookeville, Tennessee offering nail technician, esthetician, and barber programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.

Genesis Career College-Cookeville has a 54.4% completion rate, below the Tennessee state average of 64.3%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt is $6,343 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $22,652.

Annual cost of attendance at Genesis Career College-Cookeville is $15,788, and the school participates in federal Title IV aid, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used. About 82.9% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Genesis Career Colleg… Genesis Career Colleg…: 54.4% 54.4% Tennessee average Tennessee average: 64.3% 64.3% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Manicurists and pedicurists$20,450$34,810$40,000
Skincare specialists$22,200$36,590$44,500
Barbers$22,850$24,690$31,930
Massage therapists$36,960$50,070$64,050
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists$25,700$31,310$39,990
Dental assistants$37,810$46,720$59,270
Medical assistants$34,840$39,570$45,580

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Tennessee (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 55 $17,462 $16,274 $6,333
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 32 $17,462 $16,274 $6,333
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 26 $17,462 $16,274 $6,333
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 17 not reported $15,552 not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 16 $17,462 $16,274 $6,333
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Certificate, 1–2 years 9 $21,389 not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 1–2 years 6 $23,277 $19,531 not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

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About this school

Genesis Career College-Cookeville is a private for-profit trade school located in Cookeville, Tennessee, a remote-town setting. The campus is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning students can use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans to pay for training. Across seven program families, the school's most-awarded credentials are in nail technician schools, esthetician schools, and barber schools, alongside offerings in massage therapy, cosmetology, dental assisting, and medical assisting.

Federal data show a completion rate of 54.4%, which is below the Tennessee state average of 64.3%. Graduates carry a median debt of $6,343, and median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $22,652. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $15,788, and 82.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a student population with substantial financial need. Enrollment stands around 300 students, with 161 trade completers reported.

This campus appears geared toward students seeking short, hands-on career-training programs in personal-care and health-support trades rather than multi-year associate degrees, based on the program families listed. It may suit adults changing careers into licensed trades, though program length details are not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify accreditation status directly with the Council on Occupational Education and review current outcomes on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling, since figures can change year to year.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

The school offers programs in seven families, most notably nail technician schools, esthetician schools, and barber schools, plus massage therapy, cosmetology, dental assisting, and medical assisting.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, it is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, with accreditation status listed as Accredited.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The completion rate is 54.4%, which is below the Tennessee state average of 64.3%.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Median debt for graduates is reported as $6,343.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported as $22,652.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

Annual cost of attendance is listed as $15,788.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

This is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition levels, aid eligibility, and student debt loads compared to public or non-profit institutions.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (470) 259-4514 or visit its website for details.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can confirm accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education and review federal outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?220765.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The listed programs are short, hands-on trade credentials in personal-care and health-support fields, which may suit adults seeking a career change, though specific program lengths are not reported in federal data.

What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?

Licensing requirements for fields like barbering, esthetics, or massage therapy are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm state licensing requirements.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Genesis Career College-Cookeville at (470) 259-4514 or through its website, https://www.genesiscareer.edu/.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard for nearby program comparisons.

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

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