Career Training Path › South Dakota › Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota · Private for-profit career school
Address: 333 Omaha St. Suite 6 & 7, Rapid City, SD 57701 · Phone: 60534842470 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, not yet lifted — May 2026 · Probation · National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences.
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is a private for-profit trade school in Rapid City, SD offering cosmetology, esthetician, and massage therapy programs, accredited by NACCAS.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, this campus has an 87.5% completion rate versus a 73.8% state average, with median graduate debt of $7,917 and median earnings 10 years after entry of $29,547.
Annual cost of attendance at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is $26,271, federal financial aid can be used since the school participates in Title IV, and 56.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $32,090 | $49,800 | $56,200 |
| Skincare specialists | $24,450 | $38,230 | $46,110 |
| Massage therapists | $35,720 | $52,000 | $53,920 |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | $34,280 | $45,310 | $53,970 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in South Dakota (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
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 25 | not reported | $21,052 | $9,681 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 19 | not reported | $21,052 | $9,681 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 11 | $14,756 | not reported | $7,917 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 8 | not reported | $21,052 | $9,681 |
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.
About this school
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is a private for-profit trade school located in Rapid City, South Dakota. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used to attend. The campus awards programs across four families, with the most common being Cosmetology schools, Esthetician schools, and Massage therapy schools.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 87.5%, which is above the South Dakota state average of 73.8%. Graduates carry a median debt of $7,917, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $29,547. The annual cost of attendance is $26,271, and 56.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of low-income enrollment.
This campus, with 66 undergraduates and 63 trade completers, may suit students seeking focused training in cosmetology, esthetics, massage therapy, or nail technology rather than a multi-year associate degree path. Whether the program length and schedule fit an adult career-changer's needs is not detailed in this data; prospective students should contact the school directly to confirm program length and format. To verify accreditation status and outcomes independently, check the NACCAS accreditor listing and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the link provided. Any figures not mentioned here are not reported for this campus in federal data.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
The campus offers four program families: cosmetology, esthetician, massage therapy, and nail technician training. The top programs by enrollment are cosmetology schools, esthetician schools, and massage therapy schools.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school 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 87.5%, which is above the South Dakota state average of 73.8%, per federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $7,917, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $29,547.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is $26,271.
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, ownership structure, and financial aid terms compared to public or non-profit institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at the phone number or website provided to confirm.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and check federal outcome data via the College Scorecard link provided.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program schedules or formats needed to assess fit for adult career-changers; contact the school directly to discuss options.
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 or your state licensing board for specifics.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach the school by phone at 60534842470 or visit its website at https://paulmitchell.edu/rapidcity.
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; use the College Scorecard link to compare institutions directly.
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.