Career Training Path › Pennsylvania › South Hills Beauty Academy
South Hills Beauty Academy
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private for-profit career school
Address: 3269 W Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15216 · Phone: 412561338113381 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
South Hills Beauty Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Pittsburgh, PA offering esthetician, cosmetology, and nail technician programs, accredited by NACCAS.
South Hills Beauty Academy has a 93.5% completion rate, above the state average of 66.2%, with median graduate debt of $3,431 and median earnings of $23,453 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for South Hills Beauty Academy; the school participates in Title IV aid, and about 8.8% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare specialists | $22,870 | $43,620 | $58,970 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,700 | $36,790 | $55,360 |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | $20,520 | $27,990 | $33,180 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Pennsylvania (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, 300–899 hours | 197 | $20,121 | $19,426 | $3,431 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 47 | $20,121 | $19,426 | $3,431 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 43 | $20,121 | $19,426 | $3,431 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | $20,121 | $19,426 | $3,431 |
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
South Hills Beauty Academy is a private for-profit trade school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in a large suburb setting. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and participates in Title IV federal financial aid, meaning students can use FAFSA-based aid to help pay for their programs. The school awards four program types, with the largest numbers of completers in esthetician schools (197), cosmetology schools (52), and nail technician schools (43).
According to federal data, South Hills Beauty Academy has a completion rate of 93.5%, which is above the state average of 66.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $3,431, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $23,453. About 8.8% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
Based on its concentrated program mix of cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology, this campus fits students seeking short, hands-on personal-care career training rather than multi-year academic degrees; whether it suits adult career changers specifically is not detailed in the available data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and review updated outcomes through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling, since program costs and any additional details not listed here should be confirmed directly with the school.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
South Hills Beauty Academy offers four program types, with the most completers in esthetician schools (197), cosmetology schools (52), and nail technician schools (43).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and its 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 students can use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 93.5%, which is above the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2%, according to federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $3,431, 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 $23,453.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
South Hills Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition structure and how Title IV aid is administered 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 directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation with the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and review federal outcome data through the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?216074.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data shows concentrated, short-format programs in cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology, but fit for adult career changers specifically is not detailed in federal data; contact the school to discuss your situation.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in federal data; contact the school or Pennsylvania's cosmetology licensing board for details specific to your program.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach South Hills Beauty Academy by phone at 412-561-3381 or visit their website at https://www.shnhbeauty.com/.
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 to compare outcomes across schools.
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.