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The Salon Professional Academy
Rapid City, South Dakota · Private for-profit career school
Address: 937 East North Street, Rapid City, SD 57701 · Phone: (605) 342-0697 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Dec 2024 · Monitoring · National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences; May 2026 · Accreditation Reaffirmed: Probation Removed. 3 sanction actions in the window.
The Salon Professional Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Rapid City, South Dakota, offering esthetician, cosmetology, and massage therapy programs, accredited by NACCAS.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, this school has a 79.3% completion rate versus a 73.8% state average, with graduates carrying a median debt of $8,500 and median earnings of $23,641 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance at The Salon Professional Academy is $23,508, federal financial aid can be used here, and 43.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare specialists | $24,450 | $38,230 | $46,110 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $32,090 | $49,800 | $56,200 |
| 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, 300–899 hours | 26 | $21,146 | $22,455 | $9,835 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | $21,146 | $22,455 | $9,835 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | $21,146 | $22,455 | $9,835 |
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
The Salon Professional Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Rapid City, South Dakota. 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 offers programs in esthetician, cosmetology, massage therapy, and nail technology, with esthetician (26 completers), cosmetology (18 completers), and massage therapy (7 completers) representing the top program areas.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 79.3%, which is above the South Dakota state average of 73.8%. Graduates carry a median debt of $8,500, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $23,641. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $23,508, and 43.3% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
With a small undergraduate enrollment of 80 students and a locale described as a small city, this campus may suit students seeking focused, hands-on training in beauty and wellness trades rather than a large multi-program institution. Programs listed suggest shorter, career-focused training rather than multi-year associate degrees, though exact program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and outcomes directly through the College Scorecard and confirm program details with the school before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
The Salon Professional Academy offers esthetician, cosmetology, massage therapy, and nail technology programs. Esthetician (26 completers) and cosmetology (18 completers) are the largest programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), 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 students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 79.3%, which is above the South Dakota state average of 73.8%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $8,500, per federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $23,641.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is listed at $23,508.
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 costs and financial aid eligibility compared to public or non-profit institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (605) 342-0697 or visit their website for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through NACCAS and check federal outcome data directly on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?219037.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The programs offered—esthetician, cosmetology, massage therapy, and nail technology—are career-focused trades, though specific fit for adult career changers is not detailed in federal data; contact the school to discuss enrollment options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in federal data for this campus; contact the school at (605) 342-0697 for state licensing guidance related to these trades.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach The Salon Professional Academy at (605) 342-0697 or through their website at https://www.tsparapidcity.com/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in federal data; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?219037 to compare similar programs.
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.