Cheeks Beauty Academy

The academic experience is a tightly focused, practical immersion into the beauty trades. Cheeks Beauty Academy offers a limited number of 4 majors, all concentrated within the field of cosmetology and related services. According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the institution awards Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma credentials in Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services. Popular majors, as noted by student reviews, include Cosmetology, Barbering, and Cosmetology Instruction and Salon Management. The pedagogy is built on a proven curriculum and 'real world' experience, a philosophy the school has honed over more than 30 years. The environment is hands-on and intensive, with classes typically held Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Faculty interaction is high due to small cohorts; reported student-to-faculty ratios vary from 10:1 to 16:1, ensuring close supervision as students master technical skills. This is a vocational education in the purest sense—the classroom is a salon, and the goal is professional competency and state licensure.

Student life orbits entirely around the professional training schedule and the salon-floor environment. There is no residential campus, athletics, or traditional collegiate social scene. The academy describes itself as a state of the art Cosmetology School offering education in hair, skin care and nails. Life is structured around the Tuesday-Friday, 9am-5pm class schedule, creating a full-time, weekday commitment that mirrors a professional work week. The atmosphere is likely similar to that of a "local school where students can feel confident and excited about a career," as a comparable institution describes its culture. With a total student population reported between 32 and 57 across sources, the community is unavoidably close-knit. Students spend their days in practical training environments at locations like 207 W 18th St in Cheyenne or 5010 Granite St in Loveland, Colorado, building their portfolios and techniques alongside peers and instructors. This is a commuter school for aspiring professionals, where 'student life' is synonymous with 'shop floor' preparation.

Outcomes are measured in licensure, placement, and early-career earnings, not bachelor's degrees or graduate school placements. The institution reports a 6-year graduation rate of 71%, a key metric for program completion. For graduates, the financial return is modest and aligns with entry-level positions in the personal care industry. Median earnings figures vary by source and timeframe: one federal source lists $29,957, while other data shows earnings 1 year after graduation at $21,775 and 5 years after graduation at $25,555. A broader expected salary range for a graduate 6 years after graduation is between $7,000 and $27,600. According to the canonical figures provided, the official median earnings 10 years after entry is $25,459. A majority of students (76%) report positive career outcomes. The credential earned is an Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma, which is the terminal award for this level of training, designed to lead directly to state board exams and employment in salons, barbershops, or as independent practitioners.

Costs are presented as a net price after accounting for grants and scholarships, which are critical for most students. The average net price after aid is a key figure. While one source lists this as $11,035, the canonical figure provided and to be used is $10,603. The school reports an average aid package of $5,456. To help families estimate costs, Cheeks Beauty Academy provides a net price calculator on its consumer information page, intended to provide estimated net price information based on grant and scholarship aid. Tuition figures are also cited, with one source listing $19,300 for in-state students. Financial aid for cosmetology schools typically follows federal guidelines, including access to subsidized loans (which require demonstrated financial need and do not accrue interest while the student is in school) and unsubsidized loans (available regardless of need). The process starts with the FAFSA, as "you don't have to get a four-year degree to be able to fill out the" application for federal student aid.

Cheeks Beauty Academy stands out for its unapologetic, single-purpose focus. It is not trying to be a college; it is a trade school with a clear, decades-long mission to sculpt beauty industry professionals. Its distinct character is built on three pillars: open access, a real-world curriculum, and hyper-efficient training. The 100% acceptance policy removes academic barriers, prioritizing motivation over transcripts. The education is purely practical—the 'campus' is a working salon environment, and the schedule mirrors a full-time job, preparing students for the rhythms of the industry from day one. With a completion rate of 71% and small cohorts taught in ratios as low as 10:1, it provides a supportive, focused path to a license for a specific demographic, particularly women in Wyoming and Colorado seeking a skilled trade. In a higher education landscape obsessed with rankings and prestige, Cheeks offers something else entirely: a direct, no-frills, and time-tested route to a specific career for those who know exactly what they want to do.