Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science

What Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science does

Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science is a privately-held, NACCAS-accredited proprietary beauty school founded in 1989 and headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri, operating two campuses (the main campus at 1753 Woodclift Drive and the Esthetics Division/Student Spa at 1101 Southwest Blvd). It delivers state-licensed training across six clock-hour-based programs: Cosmetology (1,500 hours), Esthetics with CIDESCO accreditation (1,125 hours plus 75 supplemental hours to meet the 1,200-hour international diploma standard), Barber (1,000 hours), Manicuring (400 hours), Instructor Training (450-600 hours), and Barber Crossover (45 hours). Students gain access to the Pivot Point LAB digital curriculum (A Designer's Approach, Salon Fundamentals, Mindful Teaching) delivered via tablet, with cosmetology enrollees issued a loaded device. Merrell also holds CIDESCO International School accreditation (one of only 11 in the United States) and is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV federal aid (FAFSA code 016911), the Missouri State Approving Agency for GI Bill benefits, and the Missouri Division of Job Training. The school serves aspiring beauty professionals in central Missouri through continuous monthly enrollment, with revenue primarily generated by tuition (with financial aid covering many enrollees) and secondarily by a public-facing student salon and spa clinic that offers discounted hair, nail, facial, waxing, and massage services performed by students under licensed instructor supervision.

Name

Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science

Legal name

Merrell University of Beauty Arts & Science

Website

https://merrelluniversity.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science is a privately-held, NACCAS- and CIDESCO-accredited beauty school in Jefferson City, Missouri, founded in 1989, delivering state-licensed cosmetology, esthetics, barber, manicuring, and instructor training programs plus a public student-run salon and spa clinic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cosmetology and Beauty Education

NAICS

Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Beauty Salons (812112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cosmetology Schools & Programs (HSALANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Esthetics & Skincare Training Programs (HSALANAB), Nail Technology (Manicure/Pedicure) Training Programs (HSALANAC), Salon Business, Management & Retail Training (HSALANAK), Continuing Education & License Exam Prep (CE/State Board Prep) (HSALANAL), Esthetics / Skincare (EDAOALAE)

Keywords

• Cosmetology education
• Esthetics training
• Barber licensing
• Beauty school
• Manicuring instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Jefferson City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Cosmetology Tuition: Full cosmetology program tuition for 1500 clock hours over 12 months (approximately 50 weeks), 30 hours per week. Revenue generated from student tuition payments, including those covered by financial aid programs.
2. Esthetics CIDESCO Tuition: Esthetics program with CIDESCO accreditation, 1125 clock hours minimum over 10 months (approximately 38 weeks), held Wednesday through Saturday. Students need additional 75 hours to meet CIDESCO's 1200-hour minimum, provided at no extra cost.
3. Barber Program Tuition: Barber program minimum of 1000 clock hours covering approximately 34 weeks. Classes held Wednesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
4. Barber Crossover Program Tuition: 45 clock hour program over 3 weeks, $905 total tuition and fees. Not eligible for Financial Aid. Classes Monday and Tuesday 8:30-4:30.
5. Instructor Training Tuition: Instructor training course covering teaching skills, lesson planning, clinic supervision, and school administration. Classes held Wednesday through Saturday.
6. Manicuring Program Tuition: 400-hour program covering all phases of manicuring, artificial and sculptured nails. Not eligible for Financial Aid.
7. Student Clinic Services Revenue: Student salon and spa services performed by students under instructor supervision. Services include haircuts ($12-$55), hair coloring ($35-$95+), manicures ($15-$25), pedicures ($25-$35), facials ($45-$60), body massage ($15-$45), waxing ($8-$50), and other beauty services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science is a private beauty school in Jefferson City, Missouri that delivers state-licensed clock-hour educational programs in Cosmetology, Esthetics (CIDESCO-accredited), Barber, Manicuring, Instructor Training, and Barber Crossover. The school supplements instruction with a public student salon and spa clinic where trainees perform haircut, color, nail, facial, massage, and waxing services under licensed instructor supervision.

Product overview

Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science is a beauty school offering a portfolio of six distinct educational programs: Cosmetology (1500 hours), Esthetics CIDESCO (1125+ hours), Barber (1000 hours), Manicuring (400 hours), Instructor Training (600 hours), and Barber Crossover (45 hours). The institution provides Pivot Point LAB educational platform access to students. The programs prepare graduates for state licensure and entry-level positions in the beauty industry. Additionally, the school operates a public-facing clinic where students perform real client services under supervision, offering haircutting, coloring, nail services, facials, body treatments, hair removal, and other spa services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cosmetology Program A 1,500 clock-hour cosmetology program over approximately 12 months (50 weeks, 30 hours per week) that prepares students for Missouri State Board of Cosmetology licensure through training in hairdressing, manicuring, and full salon services, accompanied by Pivot Point LAB digital curriculum on a dedicated tablet.
• Esthetics CIDESCO Program A 1,125 clock-hour Esthetics program (approximately 10 months / 38 weeks) with CIDESCO international accreditation, covering esthetics, manicuring, and beauty therapy, with an additional 75 hours provided at no extra cost to meet CIDESCO's 1,200-hour minimum; classes held Wednesday through Saturday.
• Barber Program A 1,000 clock-hour barber program (approximately 34 weeks) covering hair design, history, skin care, shaving, styling, cutting, permanent waving, relaxing, coloring, skin care, hairpieces, and shaving, preparing students for Missouri licensure; classes held Wednesday through Saturday.
• Manicuring Program A 400-hour manicuring program covering all phases of manicuring, artificial and sculptured nails, professional products, salon business, professional ethics, state law, chemistry, and nail/skin diseases and disorders; not eligible for Financial Aid.
• Instructor Training Program A 600 clock-hour Instructor Training program preparing licensed cosmetologists, manicurists, estheticians, or barbers to become qualified instructors, covering teaching skills, lesson planning, clinic supervision, school administration, and professional development; classes held Wednesday through Saturday.
• Barber Crossover Program A 45 clock-hour Barber Crossover program (3 weeks, Monday-Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for licensed cosmetologists to expand into barbering, covering history of barbering and the art of shaving; total tuition and fees $905, not eligible for Financial Aid.
• Student Salon and Spa Clinic Services Walk-in and appointment-based beauty services performed by students under licensed instructor supervision at the school's public salon and spa, including haircuts ($12-$35), hair coloring ($35-$95+), manicures ($15-$25), pedicures ($25-$35), facials ($45-$60), body massage ($15-$45), and waxing ($8-$50).

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CIDESCO InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerrell University is a qualified CIDESCO International School and is one of eleven located in the United States and one of just over two hundred in the world. CIDESCO is the world's major international beauty therapy association founded in 1946 with head office in Zurich, Switzerland. Students completing the Esthetics program receive additional 75 hours to meet CIDESCO's minimum 1200 hours at no extra cost. CIDESCO diploma is the world's most prestigious qualification in esthetics and beauty therapy.
• Pivot PointcoreTechnology or IntegrationMerrell University is a Pivot Point Member School with exclusive access to the internationally acclaimed Pivot Point educational system. Students access Pivot Point LAB, A Designer's Approach, Salon Fundamentals, and Mindful Teaching curricula. Cosmetology students receive a tablet loaded with LAB educational content.
• U.S. Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerrell University is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for participation in federal financial assistance programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans. School code for FAFSA: 016911.
• Missouri State Approving Agency - Veterans EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Missouri State Approving Agency, Veterans Education and Training Section, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education approves the curriculum for veterans education and training benefits (GI Bill).
• Missouri Division of Job TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Job Training Partnership for student financial assistance approves the curriculum at Merrell University. Students must receive enrollment approval from the Division of Job Training prior to receiving assistance.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Salon Professional Academy: Network of independently owned cosmetology and esthetics schools operating under a common brand with NACCAS accreditation. Comparable program portfolio and Title-IV-eligible tuition model targeting similar student demographics.
• Aveda Institutes: Network of branded cosmetology and esthetics schools co-located with Aveda salons, offering state-licensed programs in cosmetology and esthetics. Closely comparable on curriculum structure, brand-driven differentiation, and tuition pricing.
• Crave Beauty Academy: Independent cosmetology and esthetics school operating in the Midwest with NACCAS accreditation and similar tuition structure. Comparable regional single-market operator targeting the same vocational beauty student segment.
• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture: Mid-size cosmetology and esthetics school operator with multiple locations offering NACCAS-accredited programs. Directly comparable program mix (cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology) and Title-IV-eligible tuition model.
• Empire Beauty Schools: Largest multi-state chain of cosmetology schools in the U.S., offering programs in cosmetology, esthetics, and instructor training. Direct competitor for tuition-paying students in similar vocational beauty credentials; comparable NACCAS-accredited, Title-IV-eligible model.
• Paul Mitchell Schools: National network of independently operated cosmetology and barbering schools affiliated with the Paul Mitchell brand. Comparable multi-program portfolio (cosmetology, barbering, esthetics) and similar student recruitment via brand affiliation.
• Summit Salon Academy: Independent cosmetology school with multiple campus locations offering state-approved cosmetology and esthetics programs. Comparable NACCAS-accredited operator with similar program hours and tuition structure.
• Xenon International Academy: Multi-location private cosmetology school offering cosmetology, esthetics, and nail programs with similar tuition structure and Pivot Point-derived curriculum. Comparable single-to-few-location operator profile.

Others

• CIDESCO International: Global beauty therapy association whose accreditation Merrell holds. Functions as the credentialing body and standard-setter, not a competitor; relevant as an enabling partnership that defines Merrell's premium esthetics positioning.
• Pivot Point International: Curriculum and educational technology provider whose Pivot Point LAB platform Merrell uses as its core educational system. Adjacent enabler — supplies the differentiated digital learning content Merrell monetizes — rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wix
• Facebookfacebook.com/wix
• Instagraminstagram.com/merrelluniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/merrell-university-of-beauty-arts-and-science

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science