PCI Academy
PCI Academy is a private, NACCAS-accredited vocational trade school operating three campuses in Iowa and Minnesota, delivering hands-on cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, massage therapy, and advanced practice esthetics programs to aspiring and currently licensed beauty and wellness professionals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersAmes, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What PCI Academy does
PCI Academy is a private, Title IV-eligible vocational trade school operating three campuses across Iowa (Ames and Iowa City) and Minnesota (Plymouth), founded in 1978 with a current staff of approximately 63. The institution delivers hands-on training in cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, and massage therapy, with program tuition ranging from roughly $13,500 (Advanced Practice Esthetics) to $26,000 (Cosmetology), and schedules structured to allow completion in 7–19 months depending on weekly clock-hour intensity. Programs combine technical instruction using industry-name product lines (Redken, Bioelements, Voesh, DND, KeratinComplex, Babe Hair Extensions) with embedded business-skills training, career coaching, and licensure exam fee coverage.
The school's revenue model is anchored on one-time per-program tuition, supplemented by a $100 application fee, public-facing salon and spa services performed by students under licensed educator supervision (hair, skincare, nails, waxing, lashes, massage), online retail of professional products, and a growing layer of paid micro-credentials and continuing-education courses ($40–$1,297). Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer through on-campus enrollment and an online application portal, with marketing reliant on the school's website, organic and paid social (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), SEO, and community exposure generated by the student salon services.
Regulatory standing is a defining feature of the business: PCI Academy holds NACCAS accreditation, approval from the U.S. Department of Education to disburse federal financial aid, and state licensure in both Iowa and Minnesota. The Plymouth campus is the exclusive delivery site for the 500-hour Advanced Practice Esthetics program, which targets already-licensed Minnesota professionals for medical-spa adjacent modalities such as microneedling, dermaplaning, chemical peels, and electrical energy treatments. Alumni are retained into a free lifetime continuing-education program covering state-law and skill-advanced coursework.
PCI Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PCI Academy
- Legal name
- PCI Academy
- Website
- https://pci-academy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- PCI Academy is a private, NACCAS-accredited vocational trade school operating three campuses in Iowa and Minnesota, delivering hands-on cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, massage therapy, and advanced practice esthetics programs to aspiring and currently licensed beauty and wellness professionals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where PCI Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ames
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
PCI Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition Revenue: PCI Academy generates primary revenue through program tuition fees. Students pay tuition for cosmetology, esthetics, massage therapy, and advanced practice esthetics programs. Tuition varies by program and campus, with cosmetology programs commanding higher fees than specialized programs.
- Application Fees: Students pay a $100 application fee when submitting their enrollment application.
- Salon and Spa Services: PCI Academy operates student salons and spas at all three campuses providing hair, skincare, nail, massage, and barbering services to the public at discounted rates. All services are performed by students under licensed educator supervision.
- Professional Products Retail: PCI Academy operates online retail stores selling professional hair and skincare products used and recommended in their salon and wellness areas, including Redken, Biolage, and other professional product lines.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Cosmetology and Barbering Programs - Ames and Iowa City |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Cosmetology Program - Plymouth Campus |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Esthetics Program - Plymouth Campus |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Esthetics Program - Ames and Iowa City |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Massage Therapy Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Advanced Practice Esthetics Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 40-Hour Shaving for Hair Removal Certification |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Volume Lash Certification |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Intro to Cupping |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Brazilian Wax Certification |
| Subscription | Monthly | Continuing Education for Graduates |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Continuing Education for Non-Graduates |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon and Spa Services - Haircut |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon and Spa Services - Hair Coloring |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon and Spa Services - Texture Services |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon and Spa Services - Skincare |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon and Spa Services - Waxing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon and Spa Services - Lash and Brow |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Salon and Spa Services - Massage |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
PCI Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PCI Academy is a private vocational trade school that delivers hands-on training programs in cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, massage therapy, and advanced practice esthetics across three campuses in Iowa and Minnesota. Students receive technical instruction paired with business-skills education, real-client experience in student-operated salons and spas, job placement support, and free lifetime continuing education. The institution is accredited by NACCAS and approved by the U.S. Department of Education to administer federal financial aid.
Product overview
PCI Academy is a cosmetology and esthetics trade school offering a portfolio of educational programs (Cosmetology, Esthetics, Massage Therapy, Advanced Practice Esthetics, and Continuing Education) across three campuses in Ames IA, Iowa City IA, and Plymouth MN. The school also operates Salon & Wellness Services where students provide real-client services under educator supervision. Programs combine hands-on technical training with business education to prepare graduates for careers in the beauty, barbering, and wellness industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cosmetology Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Students can complete cosmetology programs in 11-19 months depending on schedule intensity
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use PCI Academy
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PCI Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
PCI Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- PhorestcoreOnline booking platform used by PCI Academy for all three campus salon and spa locations. Students and guests can book appointments through Phorest's web-based booking system.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PCI Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Xenon Academy: Multi-location cosmetology, esthetics, and massage therapy school with a campus in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Directly comparable to PCI Academy given overlapping program portfolio, similar regional Midwest footprint, and overlapping target student demographics.
- Milan Institute: Multi-campus vocational school offering cosmetology, esthetics, and massage therapy programs across several U.S. states. Directly comparable to PCI Academy in program portfolio, accreditation status, and direct-to-consumer enrollment model.
- Empire Beauty Schools: One of the largest cosmetology school chains in the U.S. with multiple campuses. Directly comparable to PCI Academy as a NACCAS-accredited multi-campus operator offering cosmetology, esthetics, and barbering programs with federal financial aid eligibility.
- Aveda Institutes: Network of cosmetology and esthetics schools co-branded with Aveda. Directly comparable to PCI Academy in that both combine vocational training with named professional product partnerships (Aveda vs. PCI's Redken/KeratinComplex) and offer salon/spa service environments.
- PJW Academy: Cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology school offering programs in the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable to PCI Academy in cosmetology/esthetics program mix and small multi-campus private institution profile.
- Paul Mitchell Schools: National network of cosmetology and barbering schools co-branded with the Paul Mitchell professional haircare brand. Directly comparable in program offering (cosmetology, esthetics, barbering), multi-campus structure, and use of premium industry products in training.
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture: Multi-campus cosmetology and esthetics school primarily in the Midwest. Directly comparable to PCI in program mix (cosmetology, esthetics, continuing education), NACCAS accreditation, and Title IV eligibility for federal financial aid.
Regional players
- Bellus Academy: Canadian cosmetology, esthetics, and makeup school with an advanced spa therapy focus. Comparable to PCI Academy in program mix and emphasis on esthetics, but operates in Canada rather than the U.S. Midwest market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PCI Academy social profiles
Digital presencePCI Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
PCI Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PCI Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
PCI Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PCI Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PCI Academy
What does PCI Academy do?
PCI Academy is a private vocational trade school that delivers hands-on training programs in cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, massage therapy, and advanced practice esthetics across three campuses in Iowa and Minnesota. Students receive technical instruction paired with business-skills education, real-client experience in student-operated salons and spas, job placement support, and free lifetime continuing education. The institution is accredited by NACCAS and approved by the U.S. Department of Education to administer federal financial aid.
Is PCI Academy a public or private company?
PCI Academy is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was PCI Academy founded?
PCI Academy was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is PCI Academy based?
PCI Academy is headquartered in Ames, United States, in the North America region.
How does PCI Academy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition Revenue is the primary driver. The others are application Fees, salon and Spa Services and professional Products Retail.
Who are PCI Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Xenon Academy, Milan Institute, Empire Beauty Schools, Aveda Institutes, PJW Academy, Paul Mitchell Schools and Tricoci University of Beauty Culture. Bellus Academy is listed as a regional player.
Does PCI Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for PCI Academy.