Elevate Salon Institute

The academic offering is singular and intensive: a 1500-hour program in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General. This is the only major offered. The program is designed for hands-on training with industry partners like L'Oréal. It is a less than 2-year program, reflecting its focused, vocational nature. Student retention rates provide insight into program engagement: the full-time retention rate is 80%, while the part-time retention rate is reported as $1,524 (this appears to be a data error, but the full-time figure is clear). Graduation rates are cited variably across sources: one reports 86% of undergraduates graduate in 6 years, another cites a 6-year graduation rate of 68%, and a third mentions an 82.6% graduation rate. This suggests completion is a central focus, though exact figures differ. The institute typically graduates about 53 students annually in this single field.

Student life revolves around the salon studio environment. The institute promotes a culture of support and inclusivity, aiming for graduates to love and stay in the beauty industry. The total enrollment is small, with 157 full-time and 40 part-time students, creating an intimate cohort. Campuses are located in Royal Oak (4050 Crooks Rd) and Utica, Michigan, with the Royal Oak location being just 15 minutes from Detroit. The experience is centered on professional training, with opportunities to book tours and chat with admissions teams. Social media presence highlights hair, nails, and skincare services, indicating a strong practical, client-facing component to student life.

Outcomes are measured by licensure and earnings in the beauty trade. The canonical figure for median earnings 10 years after entry is $16,853. Other sources report varying shorter-term earnings: $14,414 one year after graduation, $20,194 five years after, and $24,677 four years post-graduation for completers. Another source cites median earnings of $22,621. These figures underscore the vocational earnings profile. The primary outcome is graduation and subsequent industry employment, with the school reporting that 86% of undergraduate students graduate within 6 years (per one source). The mission is clearly oriented toward placing graduates directly into salon work.

As a for-profit trade school, cost and aid are central considerations. The canonical average net price after aid is $19,409. Other reported net prices vary: $25,620, $18,750, and $12,997. The average financial aid package is reported as $3,471. A significant portion of the student body receives aid: 63% of undergraduates receive financial aid, with 38% benefiting from federal Pell Grants. The institute offers its own scholarships and guides students toward federal loans, including unsubsidized loans available regardless of financial need. A Net Price Calculator is available for prospective students to estimate costs. There is no indication of a no-loan policy or a commitment to meet full financial need; aid is a mix of grants and loans for those who qualify.

Elevate Salon Institute stands out for its utter lack of pretense and singular focus. It is not a liberal arts college; it's a career launchpad for the beauty industry. Its 100% acceptance rate and single-program offering make it a clear, no-frills choice for students certain of their vocational path. The 1500-hour, hands-on curriculum with industry partners like L'Oréal provides direct, practical training. The culture explicitly prioritizes support and inclusivity to keep graduates in the trade. In a landscape of expensive, exploratory undergraduate degrees, ESI represents a short, focused, and pragmatic alternative—a trade school where the campus is the salon, the curriculum is the craft, and the outcome is a license and a job.