Career Training Path › Texas › Strand Institute of Beauty & Esthetics
Strand Institute of Beauty & Esthetics
Portland, Texas · Private for-profit
Address: 1018 Us Hwy 181, Portland, TX 78374 · Phone: (361) 643-2373 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Strand Institute of Beauty & Esthetics is a private for-profit trade school in Portland, Texas offering cosmetology, esthetician, and nail technician programs, accredited by NACCAS.
Strand Institute has a 90.5% completion rate, above the Texas state average of 63.5%, and graduates carry a median debt of $7,917, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus.
Annual cost of attendance at Strand Institute of Beauty & Esthetics is $30,973, and the school accepts federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants. About 40.2% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,580 | $30,680 | $47,180 |
| Skincare specialists | $27,390 | $49,250 | $68,780 |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | $18,950 | $34,040 | $38,900 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Texas (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 | 21 | not reported | not reported | $7,917 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | not reported | not reported | $7,917 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | not reported | not reported | $7,917 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 9 | not reported | not reported | $7,917 |
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
Strand Institute of Beauty & Esthetics is a private for-profit trade school located in Portland, Texas, a large suburb. The campus is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning students may use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants, to help pay for training. The school awards the most credentials in cosmetology (33 completers), esthetician training (21 completers), and nail technician programs (9 completers), across four total program offerings.
Federal data show a completion rate of 90.5%, which is above the Texas state average of 63.5%. Graduates carry a median debt of $7,917. Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $30,973, and 40.2% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of lower-income enrollment.
This campus suits students interested in short, hands-on beauty and personal-care training rather than multi-year associate or bachelor's degree paths, given its focus on cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology. The high completion rate relative to the state average may be relevant for career changers weighing program reliability, though specific schedule lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with NACCAS and review official outcome figures on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Strand Institute offers cosmetology, esthetician, and nail technician programs, with cosmetology being the largest at 33 completers, followed by esthetics (21) and nail technology (9). The school has four program offerings total.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), and its status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, the 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 90.5%, which is above the Texas state average of 63.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $7,917 according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data. Check the College Scorecard link or contact the school directly for more information.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is listed at $30,973.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Strand Institute is a private for-profit school, which can mean different tuition structures and financial aid eligibility compared to public or non-profit institutions; verifying accreditation and outcomes is especially important for for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school at (361) 643-2373 or visit https://thestrandinstitute.edu/ for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status through NACCAS and review official completion, debt, and earnings data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?491066.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The school's focus on cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology suggests shorter, hands-on training rather than multi-year degree programs, which may appeal to career changers, though specific program lengths are not detailed in this data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Strand Institute of Beauty & Esthetics at (361) 643-2373 or through its website at https://thestrandinstitute.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included in this listing; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, debt, and costs across similar institutions.
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.