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Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics

Jefferson City, Missouri · Private for-profit career college · Training programs available:

Esthetician schoolsCosmetology schoolsBarber schools
80%completion rate · Missouri avg 69%
$7,671median debt of graduates
$22,997median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$26,738median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$19,547annual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (Accredited)
Address: 1753 Woodclift Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65109 · Phone: (573) 635-4433 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
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.

Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics is a private for-profit trade school in Jefferson City, MO offering esthetician, cosmetology, and barber programs, accredited by NACCAS.

Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics has a 79.5% completion rate, above the Missouri average of 69.3%, with median graduate debt of $7,671 and median earnings of $26,738 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Annual cost of attendance at Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics is $19,547, federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used, and 53.5% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Missouri College of C… Missouri College of C…: 79.5% 79.5% Missouri average Missouri average: 69.3% 69.3% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Skincare specialists$29,790$45,200$67,970
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists$28,600$30,750$38,130
Barbers$36,710$47,880$76,460

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Missouri (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, 1–2 years 33 $19,740 $16,306 $9,500
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 22 $19,740 $16,306 $9,500
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 1–2 years 3 $19,740 $16,306 $9,500
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, under 300 hours 2 $19,740 $16,306 $9,500
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 1 $19,740 $16,306 $9,500

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

Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics is a private for-profit trade school in Jefferson City, Missouri. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and students here can use federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants. The campus awards programs mainly in three fields: esthetician schools (33 completers), cosmetology schools (23 completers), and barber schools (5 completers), for a total program count of 5.

Federal data show a completion rate of 79.5%, which is above the Missouri state average of 69.3%. Graduates carry a median debt of $7,671, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $26,738. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $19,547, and 53.5% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of lower-income enrollees.

With enrollment of 97 undergraduates and program families centered on esthetics, cosmetology, and barbering, this campus may suit students seeking hands-on personal-care training rather than a traditional multi-year degree; program length and schedule details are not reported for this campus in federal data, so prospective students, including career changers, should confirm format directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and outcomes independently, check the accreditor's listing and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

The campus offers esthetician schools (33 completers), cosmetology schools (23 completers), and barber schools (5 completers), across 5 total programs.

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, it is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.

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

Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here.

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

The completion rate is 79.5%, which is above the Missouri state average of 69.3%.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $7,671, per federal data.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $26,738.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

The reported annual cost of attendance is $19,547.

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 pricing and institutional funding compared with public or non-profit schools.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (573) 635-4433 or visit its website to confirm.

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

You can check the accreditor's public directory and review the school's federal outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?178077.

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

The campus focuses on esthetics, cosmetology, and barbering programs, which may suit career changers seeking hands-on personal-care training, though specific fit details like schedule flexibility are not reported in federal data.

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

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

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach the school by phone at (573) 635-4433 or through its website at https://merrelluniversity.edu/.

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

Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; consult the College Scorecard to compare outcomes across schools.

Nearby trade and career schools in Missouri

See all trade and career schools in Missouri or search by ZIP code.

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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