Universal Spa Training Academy

What Universal Spa Training Academy does

Universal Spa Training Academy (USTA) is a privately held, NACCAS-accredited career school founded in 2006 and operating from a single campus at 340 Burlington Ave in Downers Grove, Illinois. It serves the greater Chicagoland area with five core training programs — Aesthetics (750 hours), Medical Aesthetics Certification (included with aesthetics), Cosmetology (1,500 hours), Massage Therapy (650 hours), and Instructor Training (500-1,000 hours) — plus Continuing Education for licensed professionals. The school is licensed by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, and is approved for Title IV federal student aid, GI Bill, and MyCAA funding.

USTA's curriculum integrates hands-on clinical instruction with a student clinic where enrollees perform supervised client services in massage, skin care, waxing, brow and lash, and advanced modalities. Every program includes free business and entrepreneurship classes, and a Multi-License Program offers 10-20% stacked tuition discounts to retain students across disciplines. The owner-operator model is led by Mr. and Mrs. Tyler, with Mrs. Tyler bringing experience as a licensed aesthetician, massage therapist, instructor, and former founder of the Celebrated Woman day spa. Exclusive training partnerships with Aesthetics Exposed Education (laser certification) and Deesignz Artistry (brow and lash) differentiate the curriculum.

Revenue is generated primarily through individual student tuition across the five programs, supplemented by continuing education fees ($90-$104 per CEU course), a $50 registration fee, and student clinic service revenue. The GTM motion is direct-to-consumer via online inquiry, campus tours, and a structured in-person admissions interview. Tuition pricing is not publicly disclosed. Since inception, USTA has produced over 2,000 graduates and reported an 87% graduation rate and 83% placement rate for 2022 per NACCAS. No external funding, M&A activity, or multi-campus expansion is indicated.

Name

Universal Spa Training Academy

Legal name

Universal Spa Training Academy

Website

https://spatrainingacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Universal Spa Training Academy is a privately held, NACCAS-accredited career school in Downers Grove, Illinois, founded in 2006, offering aesthetics, cosmetology, massage therapy, instructor, and medical aesthetics training programs to aspiring beauty and wellness professionals in the Chicagoland area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beauty and Wellness Career Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Massage Therapy & Bodywork (EDAOALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Massage Therapy Schools & Certification Programs (HSALANAJ), Spa & Body Treatment Training (Body Wraps/Scrubs/Hydrotherapy) (HSALANAI)

Keywords

• Aesthetics training programs
• Cosmetology education
• Massage therapy training
• Medical aesthetics certification
• Continuing education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Downers Grove

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Aesthetics Program: 750-hour aesthetics program with tuition that includes all training materials, student kit, and laser certification course. Financial aid available to qualifying students through federal Pell Grants and Direct Loans.
2. Tuition - Cosmetology Program: 1500-hour cosmetology program with tuition covering theory and practical instruction, premium styling tools, and business courses. Multiple schedule options available with varying program durations.
3. Tuition - Massage Therapy Program: 650-hour massage therapy program including massage table with tuition. Covers Swedish, sports, deep tissue, hot stone massage, reflexology, CPR certification, and pregnancy/prenatal training.
4. Instructor Training Programs: 500-1000 hour cosmetology instructor and 750 hour aesthetics instructor programs for licensed professionals seeking to become educators.
5. Continuing Education: CEU courses for licensed massage therapists (24 hours including ethics), aestheticians (10 hours biennial), and cosmetologists (14 hours biennial). Classes like Aromatherapy offered at $90-104 per course.
6. Student Services Revenue: Revenue from $50 registration fee for enrolled students. Additional services include transcript requests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Universal Spa Training Academy (USTA) is a private career school that delivers state-approved programs in aesthetics (750 hours), cosmetology (1,500 hours), massage therapy (650 hours), medical aesthetics, instructor training (500–1,000 hours), and continuing education. Instruction combines classroom theory with hands-on clinical practice delivered through a student-run spa clinic serving paying clients.

Product overview

Universal Spa Training Academy is a multi-program educational institution offering spa and beauty training in the Chicagoland area since 2006. The institution operates as a single unified academy offering five core training programs: Aesthetics (750-hour), Medical Aesthetics Certification (included with aesthetics), Cosmetology (1500-hour), Massage Therapy (650-hour), and Instructor Training (500-1000 hour). The institution also operates a Student Clinic where enrolled students perform actual client services under supervision, offering massage, skin care, waxing, and advanced spa treatments. The programs are integrated through a Multi-License Program that allows students to stack credentials with tuition discounts. All programs include free Business Class training covering entrepreneurship and career preparation. The institution's product portfolio also includes Continuing Education for licensed professionals seeking to maintain or advance their credentials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aesthetics Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% graduation rate (2022)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Aesthetics Exposed EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership with Aesthetics Exposed Education, led by Terri Wojak with 25+ years of industry experience, to provide hands-on laser certification course included at no extra cost to enrolled aesthetic students. Training includes IPL, Nano Pen, Laser Physics, and hands-on certification. Internships at Aesthetics Exposed may be available for top-performing students.
• Deesignz ArtistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership for brow and lash training. Deesignz Artistry is licensed by the Illinois Department of Health and certified with CPCP and AAMP. Provides skilled technicians for training, hands-on instruction, and certificates upon completion. USTA students eligible for externships.
• RedkensupportingTechnology or IntegrationDesignated as a Redken Partner School. Students receive training using Redken professional hair care products. Redken provides iconic formulas and hands-on education, with message of 'Powered by Science. Prescribed by Pros.'
• PCA SkinsupportingTechnology or IntegrationDesignated as a PCA Partnership School. Students use PCA Skin products for facials, microdermabrasions, and chemical peels. PCA formulates products improving skin health with formulations free of synthetic dyes, fragrances, mineral oil, petrolatum, lanolin and phthalates.
• EnvironsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMedical aesthetics program utilizes Environ skincare products, developed with vitamin A as their cornerstone life ingredient. Products focus on healthy, beautiful skin through vitamin-based formulations.
• Alastin SkincaresupportingTechnology or IntegrationMedical aesthetics program utilizes Alastin Skincare products for daily regimens and post-procedure care. Products are cruelty, paraben, and gluten free, promoting fortified, healthy skin.
• Hand and Stone Massage and Facial SpasupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry partner and employer of USTA graduates. Franchise spa chain providing employment opportunities for graduates across their locations in the Chicagoland area.
• Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerABMP member school status. Students receive ABMP Exam Coach 1 Year Membership included in massage student kit. ABMP provides student resources, insurance discounts, and professional network access.
• Make-Up Designory (MUD)supportingTechnology or IntegrationCosmetology and aesthetics students use MUD makeup products. MUD creates honest makeup products with quality education, offering long-lasting wearability and flawless application.
• Skin ScriptsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAesthetics and cosmetology programs use Skin Script clinical skincare products containing retinols, glycolics, lactics, salicylics and natural lighteners. Products allow customization for client skin conditions.
• MizanisupportingTechnology or IntegrationCosmetology program includes Mizani product knowledge training for textured hair services. Partnership addresses the 65% of US population with textured hair through holistic education on hair color, haircare, and styling.
• OPIsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCosmetology program includes OPI nail product training. As the #1 nail salon brand worldwide, OPI provides unlimited shades and highest quality products for nail care education.
• Keratin ComplexsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCosmetology students receive Keratin Complex training as an advanced service and revenue generator. Training covers professional installation techniques for smoothing treatments that can eliminate frizz and last 6 weeks to 5 months.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture: Chicago-based beauty and cosmetology school offering aesthetics, cosmetology, and instructor programs. Closest geographic direct peer with similar program mix and employer outcomes focus.
• Aveda Institute Chicago: Chicago-area cosmetology and aesthetics school operated by the Aveda network. Directly comparable multi-program beauty school serving the same Chicagoland student base with similar product mix (cosmetology, aesthetics, massage-adjacent).
• National Laser Institute: Specializes in medical aesthetics and laser certification training, which USTA bundles within its aesthetics program. Directly comparable in the laser/medical aesthetics segment of the curriculum.
• Pivot Point Academy: Illinois-based cosmetology and aesthetics school offering multi-program beauty training. Comparable in program structure, regulatory profile, and Chicagoland student base to USTA.
• Euro Institute of Skin Care: Specialized aesthetics and skin care school on the West Coast offering comparable aesthetics curriculum. Comparable in program focus but operates in a different regional market.
• Cortiva Institute: Multi-state massage therapy and aesthetics school offering comparable 600+ hour massage curricula and aesthetics programs. Direct peer for USTA's massage therapy program.

Regional players

• Total Cosmetology Training Center: Oregon-based cosmetology, aesthetics, and massage therapy school with comparable program mix. Comparable in multi-discipline beauty/bodywork training but in a different geographic market than USTA's Chicagoland focus.
• Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers: Multi-location beauty and wellness school offering cosmetology, aesthetics, and massage therapy with a comparable multi-program structure, though operating primarily on the West Coast rather than in the Midwest.

Broad incumbents

• Empire Beauty Schools: One of the largest cosmetology school chains in the U.S. with national footprint. Competes broadly with USTA in cosmetology/aesthetics training, but at much larger scale and without USTA's massage therapy or laser certification depth.
• Paul Mitchell Schools: Nationwide chain of cosmetology and barbering schools operating under the Paul Mitchell brand. Overlaps with USTA's cosmetology program at scale; not present in massage therapy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/universal-spa-training-academy

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Universal Spa Training Academy