
Camden, SCprivate forprofitwww.legrandinstitute.com/
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
LeGrand Institute of Cosmetology Inc is a single-purpose, open-admission trade school in Camden, South Carolina, dedicated entirely to training cosmetologists. It operates with the straightforward ethos of a Redken beauty school, where the entire student body of about 33 is enrolled in the same hands-on program, leading to a high graduation rate. This is a school for those with a clear, practical vocational goal, not a traditional liberal arts experience.
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Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
LeGrand Institute operates on an open admission policy, meaning any student with a high school diploma or equivalent can attend. This is reflected in its reported 100% . The process is direct and non-selective, focused on vocational intent rather than academic competition. There is a $50 application fee. The enrolled student population is predominantly White (84.8%) with Black or African American students making up 15.2% of the student body. With an open admissions model, concepts like Early Decision, demonstrated interest, and standardized test scores are not part of the evaluation process; the institute accepts most first-time undergraduate students who apply.
Academic life at LeGrand is singular and focused: the institute offers only one major, Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General. This is a career-training program where students learn the trade through direct instruction and hands-on practice. The school describes itself as a "Premier Redken Beauty School," indicating a curriculum aligned with a major professional brand. The program leads to an Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma. Typically, about 12 students graduate with this degree each year. The learning environment is practical and client-facing, with the school's public salon allowing students to gain real-world experience.
Student life revolves around the cosmetology program and the school's facility at 2418 Broad St in Camden, SC. The institute provides a "town experience" with the advantages of being near urban areas. The school operates like a working salon, with public hours from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM on weekdays (it is closed on Mondays). This structure means the student experience is highly professional and schedule-driven, more akin to a job training program than a residential college campus. Social life is likely concentrated among classmates within the close-knit, small cohort of students all pursuing the same career path.
For a vocational school, LeGrand Institute reports a strong graduation rate, with the latest IPEDS data indicating an 87% six-year graduation rate. The most critical outcome metric for its graduates is earnings in the cosmetology field. According to the canonical figures provided, the median earnings for students ten years after entry are $22,831. This figure reflects the typical earning potential for graduates entering the beauty industry.
The total is a central consideration for a career-training program. The institute's published tuition is $15,000. However, the more relevant figure for most students is the average after grants and scholarships are applied, which is $14,427 (per the canonical figure). The school offers a Net Price Calculator on its website for prospective students to get a personalized estimate. Financial aid is available, and the institute encourages students to make an appointment with its financial aid office to explore qualification for various scholarships, which include merit-based, need-based, and institutional aid options.
LeGrand Institute stands out for its utter lack of pretense and razor-sharp focus. It is not a college in the traditional sense but a dedicated cosmetology academy. Its identity is defined by what it doesn't have: no sprawling campus, no general education requirements, no competitive admissions. Instead, it offers a direct, efficient pipeline into a specific trade. The 100% and single major are features, not bugs, signaling its mission to provide accessible career training. The high graduation rate suggests the program effectively supports students through to completion. For an individual certain about a career in cosmetology, LeGrand represents a no-frills, practical alternative to a more expensive and less focused educational path.



