Elaine Sterling Institute

What Elaine Sterling Institute does

Elaine Sterling Institute (ESI) is a private post-secondary beauty and wellness education institution founded in 2008 by Elaine Sterling in Atlanta, Georgia. The school delivers state-licensed clock-hour programs across six disciplines — Barbering (1,500 hours), Cosmetology (1,500 hours), Esthetics (1,000 hours), Massage Therapy (600 hours), Nail Care (600 hours), and Medical Assisting (600 hours) — plus instructor-track and dual-licensure crossover programs. ESI holds CIDESCO and ITEC international accreditations (the only Georgia school with both), is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and is licensed by the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology & Barbers, the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy, and the GNPEC.

The core delivery model is hybrid: theory coursework runs on the Milady CIMA digital learning platform while hands-on clinical training takes place across a 38,000+ square foot main facility in Buckhead (inside Lenox Mall) with 8+ clinic floors and 10 classrooms, and a newly opened Dunwoody campus. Curriculum is differentiated by exclusive Georgia partnerships with HydraFacial, Glo2Facial, SkinStylus, Makeup Forever, Redken, Mizani, and Olaplex, supplemented by Qnity financial literacy and Beautista portfolio-building modules. Revenue is generated primarily from tuition and program fees supported by Title IV federal aid (Pell Grants, federal loans), Climb Credit third-party financing, and internal payment plans, with secondary revenue from post-graduate continuing-education courses (CIDESCO certifications, plasma fibroblast, microneedling, laser), student-operated spa and salon services, and ancillary fees (enrollment $75, state board kit $155). The school recruits students direct-to-consumer through its website, social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube), paid search, virtual tours, and scholarship competitions, with a structured admissions funnel of campus tour, entrance exam, financial aid counseling, and enrollment agreement.

Name

Elaine Sterling Institute

Legal name

Elaine Sterling Institute

Website

https://elainesterling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Elaine Sterling Institute is a private Atlanta-based post-secondary beauty and wellness school offering state-licensed clock-hour programs in barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, massage therapy, nail care, and medical assisting, plus CIDESCO and ITEC international certifications, across two metro-area campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beauty & Wellness Career Education

NAICS

Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAOALAB

Hair Styling & Cutting

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Beauty, Cosmetology & Personal Care Training

SECONDARYHSALANAD

Barbering Schools & Programs

Home & Personal Services/Personal Care & Beauty Services/Beauty Schools & Training (Cosmetology/Esthetics/Nails)

SECONDARYHSALANAC

Nail Technology (Manicure/Pedicure) Training Programs

Home & Personal Services/Personal Care & Beauty Services/Beauty Schools & Training (Cosmetology/Esthetics/Nails)

SECONDARYHSALANAK

Salon Business, Management & Retail Training

Home & Personal Services/Personal Care & Beauty Services/Beauty Schools & Training (Cosmetology/Esthetics/Nails)

SECONDARYHSALANAL

Continuing Education & License Exam Prep (CE/State Board Prep)

Home & Personal Services/Personal Care & Beauty Services/Beauty Schools & Training (Cosmetology/Esthetics/Nails)

SECONDARYEDANAIAE

Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Professional Certification & Licensure Exam Prep

SECONDARYHSALABAI

Barber Training, Apprenticeship & Education

Home & Personal Services/Personal Care & Beauty Services/Barber Shops

Keywords

• Beauty school education
• Cosmetology training programs
• Esthetician certification courses
• Massage therapy school
• Barbering licensure programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Primary revenue from tuition for credential programs including Barbering (1500 hours), Cosmetology (1500 hours), Esthetics (1000 hours), Massage Therapy (600 hours), Nail Care (600 hours), Medical Assisting (600 hours), and instructor/crossover programs. Federal financial aid (Pell Grants, Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans), payment plans, and third-party financing (Climb Credit, SuperMoney) support student payments.
2. Continuing Education Courses: Post-graduate and continuing education courses including CIDESCO certifications ($1,995-$2,745), laser classes, dermaplaning, microneedling, Brazilian wax, plasma fibroblast ($3,500), and state board prep classes. Revenue from short-term professional development offerings.
3. Spa and Salon Services: Student spa and salon services (spaatesi.com, salonatesi.com) where students perform services on real clients under supervision, generating revenue while providing hands-on training experience.
4. Ancillary Product Sales: Revenue from enrollment fees ($75), state board kits ($155), transcripts ($15), and tuition payments for specific program components sold separately through the school's online shop.
5. Scholarship Programs (HEERF): Received $324,595 in HEERF II/CRRSAA emergency relief funding (2021), distributed $221,832.70 to 223 students as emergency financial aid grants. These are pass-through federal funds, not operational revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Elaine Sterling Institute is a private post-secondary beauty and wellness school offering state-licensed career training programs including Barbering (1500 hours), Cosmetology (1500 hours), Esthetics (1000 hours), Massage Therapy (600 hours), Nail Care (600 hours), and Medical Assisting (600 hours). Programs are delivered through in-person instruction at two Atlanta-area campuses and hybrid online/in-person formats, complemented by instructor programs, dual-licensure crossover programs, and post-graduate continuing education courses including CIDESCO and ITEC international certifications.

Product overview

Elaine Sterling Institute is a beauty and wellness career school offering a comprehensive portfolio of licensure programs across multiple disciplines. The institution operates as a multi-program platform with core educational offerings including Barbering (1500 hours), Cosmetology (1500 hours), Esthetician (1000 hours), Massage Therapy (600 hours), Medical Assistant (600 hours), and Nail Care (600 hours) programs. Each program is available in traditional in-person formats and many offer hybrid options combining online theory with campus-based hands-on training. The institute also provides specialized instructor programs for licensed professionals seeking to teach, cross-over programs for dual licensure, and post-graduate continuing education courses including CIDESCO international certifications. Students gain practical experience through on-campus student spa and salon facilities. The school is CIDESCO accredited and is the only school in Georgia providing both CIDESCO and ITEC international certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Student Spa: Student spa for hands-on training
• Student Salon
• Elaine Sterling Skincare
• Elaine Sterling Education

Products and services

• Barbering Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates pass the State of Georgia Licensing Examination and are prepared as top candidates for employers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CIDESCO (Comité International d'Esthétique et de Cosmétologie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESI is CIDESCO accredited — the only school in Georgia offering this international beauty and spa therapy certification. CIDESCO accreditation means the curriculum meets the world's highest international standards, giving graduates globally recognized credentials. CIDESCO was founded in 1946 in Brussels with its head office in Zurich, Switzerland.
• ITEC (International Therapist Examination Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITEC curriculum is included in all ESI programs. ITEC is an international certification recognized in over 37 countries worldwide, allowing candidates to work internationally. The certification ensures training meets international standards.
• RedkenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional hair care brand partnership providing students with industry-leading professional products used in leading salons. Redken products are included in student kits and used during hands-on training in cosmetology and barbering programs.
• MizaniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional hair care brand (owned by L'Oréal) specializing in textured hair products. Mizani products are used during training to provide students experience with professional products used in diverse hair care settings.
• OlaplexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional hair care brand known for its bond-building technology. Olaplex products are integrated into the cosmetology and barbering curriculum for hands-on training with industry-leading color and repair treatments.
• Makeup ForeverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional cosmetics brand (owned by LVMH) used worldwide by top makeup artists. Students in cosmetology and esthetics programs receive Makeup Forever product kits and train with the same professional-grade cosmetics used in professional settings.
• HydraFacialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESI is the only school in Georgia offering official HydraFacial certification. Students receive HydraFacial product kits and exclusive access to HydraFacial's online training platform. The partnership provides training on one of the most in-demand treatments in the skincare industry.
• Milady / CIMAcoreTechnology or IntegrationMilady's CIMA (Computerized Instructional Management Aid) digital learning platform provides 24/7 access to full curricula, state board prep, interactive coursework, and digital learning tools across all ESI programs. Milady textbooks are provided in all student kits.
• Qnity (Money EDU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQnity Financial Literacy platform (Money EDU) is integrated into all programs, teaching students real-world business skills including pricing, client retention, income-building strategies, and financial management for beauty professionals.
• BeautistacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeautista platform provides students with professional identity development through portfolio creation, personal branding, and digital presence building. Students create Beautista accounts to prepare for professional marketing in the beauty industry.
• American Society of Dermatology (ASCP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCP membership provides esthetics students and graduates with professional resources, industry connections, and credentials recognized in the dermatology and skincare sector.
• Beauty Schools DirectoryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Beauty Schools Directory for student recruitment and scholarship support. The directory awards a $2,500 Beauty & Wellness Professionals Scholarship to ESI students and prospective students.
• Beauty Changes LivesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerESI is a partner school for Beauty Changes Lives, a foundation offering various scholarships funded by industry leaders and brands for aspiring beauty and wellness professionals pursuing careers in esthetics, cosmetology, nail technology, and related fields.
• FootlogixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional foot care product brand used in nail care and massage therapy programs for pedicure and foot treatment training.
• North American School of PodologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESI's Nail Care Program offers North American Podology certification through this partnership, providing students with advanced foot care credentials that set the program apart from standard nail technician training.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Aveda Institutes: Network of Aveda-branded cosmetology and esthiology schools owned/operated by Estée Lauder. Comparable to ESI in premium positioning, international standards alignment, and brand-partnership-driven curriculum, but backed by a global beauty conglomerate.

Direct peers

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture: Chicago-based private beauty school offering cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, and barbering programs. Comparable to ESI in program breadth, urban-metro footprint, and career-focused licensure model.
• Empire Beauty Schools: Largest US chain of privately-owned cosmetology and beauty schools offering multi-program vocational training across dozens of states. Closest direct peer to ESI in core cosmetology/esthetics/barbering program mix and direct-to-consumer student recruitment model.
• Xenon Academy: Multi-state private beauty school offering cosmetology, esthetics, and instructor programs. Comparable to ESI in private vocational model, multi-state presence, and cosmetology/esthetics-led portfolio.
• Ogle School: Texas-based private cosmetology and esthetics school with multiple campuses. Comparable to ESI in multi-campus structure, cosmetology/esthetics focus, and private vocational education model.
• Paul Mitchell Schools: National network of independently-operated cosmetology and barbering schools operating under the Paul Mitchell haircare brand. Comparable to ESI in multi-state footprint, cosmetology/barbering focus, and brand-anchored admissions motion.
• Milan Institute: Multi-campus private vocational beauty school with cosmetology, esthetics, nail, and massage programs across multiple states. Comparable to ESI in program breadth, Title IV participation, and mid-sized multi-campus footprint.

Regional players

• Georgia Career Institute: Georgia-based cosmetology and esthetics school operating in the broader Atlanta-area market. Comparable as a regional competitor recruiting from the same student demographic and competing for the same Georgia State Board-licensed program enrollments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elainesterling
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/elainesterling123
• Facebookfacebook.com/esiestheticsnailsmassage
• Instagraminstagram.com/elainesterlinginstitute
• TikToktiktok.com/@elainesterlinginstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elaine-sterling-institute

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Elaine Sterling Institute