Accredited Beauty School
Our historic beauty school, Minnesota School of Cosmetology (MSC), is accredited by National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). NACCAS is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education as a national accrediting agency for cosmetology schools. MSC is licensed by the state of Minnesota.
Types of Cosmetology College Accreditation
It is very important to choose a cosmetology college that is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Nationally and regionally accredited institutions accredited by those recognized organizations have all met the same standards of quality (listed below), and are eligible for federal loan and grant programs. Accreditation is a voluntary process.
Standards of quality
- Student achievement in relation to the institution's mission. The mission of MSC, for instance, refers to preparing students for employment. We must therefore demonstrate that a high percentage of our graduates are employed in cosmetology.
- Curricula
- Faculty. In keeping with our mission, cosmetology faculty have field experience in their areas of instruction.
- Facilities, equipment and supplies
- Fiscal and administrative capacity as appropriate to the specified scale of operations
- Student support services
- Recruiting and admissions practices, academic calendars, catalogs, publications, grading and advertising
- Measures of program length and the objectives of the degrees or credentials offered
- Record of student complaints received by, or available to, the agency
- Record of compliance with the institution's program responsibilities under Title IV financial aid standards
Accreditation may affect employment and transfer of credits
Attending an institution accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education is often a requirement for employment and can be helpful in transferring academic credits to another institution (U.S. Department of Education). However, it is always the decision of the receiving institution whether to accept transfer of credits. That decision may or may not involve accreditation.
What is NACCAS?
“National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a national agency for the institutional accreditation of postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences, including specialized schools. It presently accredits approximately 1,300 institutions that serve over 120,000 students. These schools offer over twenty (20) courses and programs of study that fall under NACCAS’ scope of accreditation.”
History of national and regional accreditation
Historically, nationally accredited institutions offered career-oriented and technical training, while regionally accredited institutions offered liberal arts education. Today, the distinction is not as clear. Many career-focused institutions enhance their technical training with general education and award master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees in addition to technical diplomas and certificates. Many regionally accredited institutions now offer direct-to-employment programs such as business administration and paralegal science.
The measurements used to assess quality by a national accrediting organization such as NACCAS stress measurable outcomes including retention, graduation and placement rates; professional experience of faculty; and practical experience provided by programs.
Assessment of an institution by a regional accrediting body such as North Central Association may, in expecting the institution to achieve its own mission, involve the student's philosophical perspective and self-enrichment rather than employment.