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Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology

Sweetwater, Tennessee · Private for-profit career college · Training programs available:

Cosmetology schoolsNail technician schools
78%completion rate · Tennessee avg 64%
not reportedmedian debt of graduates
not reportedmedian earnings, 6 yrs after entry
not reportedmedian earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$8,226annual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (Accredited)
Address: 409 Sweetwater-Vonore Road, Sweetwater, TN 37874 · Phone: (423) 351-0071 · 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.

Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology is a private for-profit trade school in Sweetwater, Tennessee offering cosmetology and nail technician programs, accredited by NACCAS.

Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology has a 78.4% completion rate, above the Tennessee state average of 64.3%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median debt and earnings figures are not reported for this campus.

Annual cost of attendance at Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology is $8,226, and the school participates in federal Title IV aid, with 48.0% of students receiving Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Sweetwater Institute … Sweetwater Institute …: 78.4% 78.4% 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)
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists$25,700$31,310$39,990
Manicurists and pedicurists$20,450$34,810$40,000

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, 1–2 years 21 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 17 not reported not reported not reported
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 1 not reported not reported 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

Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology is a private for-profit trade school located in Sweetwater, Tennessee, a fringe town setting. The campus is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning eligible students can use FAFSA-based aid such as Pell Grants to help cover costs. The school's programs fall under cosmetology and nail technician training, with cosmetology schools (22 students) and nail technician schools (17 students) representing its top programs among a total of 3 programs offered.

According to federal data, the campus reports a completion rate of 78.4%, which is above the Tennessee state average of 64.3%. About 48.0% of students receive Pell Grants, pointing to a student population with significant financial need. Annual cost of attendance is reported at $8,226. Median debt of graduates and median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data.

This school may suit students seeking focused, hands-on training in cosmetology or nail technology rather than a multi-year degree path, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Career changers considering this option should verify current accreditation status and review full outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and confirm program details, schedules, and costs by contacting the school directly before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology offers cosmetology and nail technician programs, with cosmetology schools (22 students) and nail technician schools (17 students) being the top programs among 3 total programs.

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 eligible 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 78.4%, which is above the Tennessee state average of 64.3%.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (423) 351-0071 or check the College Scorecard for updates.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data. You can check the College Scorecard link for any future updates.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

The annual cost of attendance is reported as $8,226.

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 structure and financial aid eligibility compared to public or non-profit institutions.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Program length is not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly at (423) 351-0071 or visit its website for details.

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 review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?497684.

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

The data does not directly address career-changer fit, but the school's focused cosmetology and nail technician programs suggest shorter, skills-based training; confirm scheduling and format with the school.

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

Licensing requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school directly or check Tennessee's state licensing board for cosmetology and nail technology requirements.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Sweetwater Institute of Cosmetology at (423) 351-0071 or visit https://www.sweetwatercosmetology.com/ for application information.

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

Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, costs, and outcomes across similar institutions.

Nearby trade and career schools in Tennessee

See all trade and career schools in Tennessee 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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