WE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING...
A career in beauty? That’s not a real career, is it?
The salon and spa industry is a vibrant part of the US economy. According Future Marketing Insights, the industry is valued at $233.8 billion projected to exceed $410 billion to 2019, salon industry job growth outperformed the overall US economy in 16 of those 19 years.* Like most industries, the beauty industry suffered during the COVID-19 Pandemic. But the number of personal appearance jobs is projected to grow by 13% between 2021 and 2031, compared to only 5% for all US jobs.
Not only is the beauty industry a growing industry, it’s also an industry of small business owners. In fact, 1 in 3 individuals in personal appearance occupations are self-employed. In comparison, only 7% of the overall US workforce is selfemployed.*
*According
THIS AIN’T YOUR GRANDMA’S BEAUTY SCHOOL
Beauty education has come a long way. Gone are the days of windowless rooms filled with a haze of questionable chemicals. Instead, our facilities utilize state-of-the-art technology in a spacious and bright atmosphere. Aveda products are 100% vegan and responsibly manufactured. In the words of Aveda founder Horst Rechelbacher, “If fashion pollutes, it should no longer be called fashion. It should be called pollution.”
Our facility is strategically located to maximize the number of guests our students serve. This means that as a student, you will have plenty of experience working on people, not just mannequins, when you graduate.
We strive not only to teach our students the skills to perform services but also the skills to succeed in business. Our curriculum includes marketing, business, and financial education, which will serve our students for years to come!
BEAUTY CAREER OPTIONS
EDUCATOR
MAKEUP ARTIST AVEDA CORPORATE
HAIRSTYLIST
ESTHETICIAN
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
MARIE PANNELLBIGGS
Cosmetology Educator
Marie left behind a career in accounting to chase her dream of becoming a stylist. Since then, she has become an accomplished stylist, worked at New York Fashion Week, and inspired many future professionals as a cosmetology educator.
After high school, Levi followed the path others thought he should follow. It wasn’t until later that he decided to pursue his passion for beauty. He found his true calling by helping his guests express themselves and embodies our mission of “do what you love, love what you do.”
Ebony was inspired by people of color who forged a path of diversity in beauty. Today, she inspires the next generation of professionals to embrace what makes us unique.
Watch these Alumni Stories and many more
EBONY IVEY
Esthetics Team Lead
Master Stylist
LEVI GRAGG
WHICH PROGRAM IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
At the Aveda Institute, we offer both cosmetology and esthetics options for our students. If you’ve never heard those words before, that’s okay. We’ll break it down for you and help you figure out which program is the best fit to help you achieve your dreams!
2024 NAHA Finalist
Student Stylist: Julia Gates
Photo: Nohemi Capetillo
PROGRAM COMPARISON
COSMETOLOGY
Cosmetology encompasses a variety of disciplines including hair styling, hair cutting, skin care, nails, and makeup. Our program is divided into six distinct phases. Each phase builds upon the last, integrating core skills with Aveda’s unique approach to wellness, client-centered service, and emotional intelligence.
PHASE 1: The science of hair / Intro to haircutting and styling
PHASE 2: Comprehensive haircutting techniques / Advanced hair styling / Waxing, nails, and basic skin care / Hands-on practice
PHASE 3: Client services on salon floor / Advanced cutting and styling theory
PHASE 4: Hair coloring techniques / Color theory / Creating custom color solutions
PHASE 5: Client color services / Advanced color techniques / Salon business skills
PHASE 6: Combining skills / MUD makeup certification / Client relations
ESTHETICS
Our esthetics education is delivered through a meticulously structured, four-phase curriculum. As with our cosmetology curriculum, each phase is carefully crafted to build upon the last, ensuring you develop a comprehensive, deep understanding of esthetics coupled with practical, real-world application.
PHASE 1:
Orientation / Anatomy / Skin care fundamentals
PHASE 2:
Advanced treatments / Ultraceuticals / Aveda facials / Enhanced techniques
PHASE 3:
MUD makeup certification / Lash extensions / Modern devices / Client services
PHASE 4:
Business practices / Dermaplaning / State board preparation / Professional transition preparation
ABOVE & BEYOND
At the Aveda Institute, we don’t just teach our students how to pass the state board examination; we teach them how to succeed.
Our curriculum includes modules for advanced education, Make Up Designory (MUD) certification, lash extensions from VoMor, results-focused skincare from Ultraceuticals, state-of-theart skin imaging from Sylton, dermaplaning, nano/micro needling (offering varies by
location) and Aveda’s exclusive curriculum called Learn Aveda. We also include training in business development from ProsperU, financial wellness from Money by Qnity, and professional development with CanvasMe. This additional education will help our students stand out among all beauty school graduates. Not only will they be prepared as skilled service providers, but to be successful leaders in the beauty industry.
2021 NAHA Winner Student Stylist: Alisha Kemp
Photo: Keith Bryce
INDUSTRY-LEADING SKINCARE EDUCATION
All of our esthetics students will learn not only the Aveda skincare curriculum but also the Ultraceuticals cosmeceutical skincare curriculum and the Sylton Observ Skin Imaging System.
WHAT IS A COSMECEUTICAL?
Cosmeceuticals are skincare products using active ingredients that are proven to produce stronger, more powerful results than other cosmetic skincare products.
WHY COSMECEUTICALS?
Cosmeceutical skincare is designed to deliver results in a shorter period of time than cosmetic skincare products.
The Ultraceutcials curriculum gives our students a deeper understanding of active ingredients and allows for hands-on practice with advanced treatments and technologies . The blend of theory and advanced treatments results in an elevated beauty professional who is confident and ready to work in the industry upon graduation.
CUSTOMIZABLE COLOR
Aveda’s customizable color system allows you to develop a deeper understanding of color theory and the chemistry behind formulating, giving you skills that provide foundational expertise for any color system.
Our color is 100% Vegan and, as always, Cruelty Free and 95% Natural. It’s a true semi-permanent hair color range, lasting up to 16 shampoos, perfect for fashion colors. There are SO MANY WAYS
TO WEAR VIBRANT COLOR and many different techniques and placements to choose from.
As an Aveda Institute student, your knowledge of color theory paired with the Aveda Vibrants line of fully customizable color will prepare you for any color request!
®
The education starts in the classroom, where aspiring makeup artists are taught the fundamentals of make-up application and the theory necessary to adapt make-up techniques to differing conditions. A MUD-certified make-up artist can work anywhere from the retail floor to a film set to a bride’s special day.
All cosmetology students will receive Level I MUD Certification for no additional cost. Our partnership with MUD also allows for continuing education post-graduation for Level II and Level III MUD Certifications at the MUD Campus in either New York or Los Angeles.
AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION
2024 Finalist
Student Stylist: Kaitlyn Rockwell
Photo: Nohemi Capetillo
CELEBRATING 18 YEARS OF EDUCATION EXCELLENCE
Each year, students have the opportunity to compete for a professional photo shoot and entry into the Professional Beauty Association’s North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) to be considered for the honor of Student Hairstylist of the Year.
Our Institutes have had finalists every year since 2007, with 8 students winning the top honor. In 2020 and 2021, our students scored back-to-back wins, with Dottie Greene and Alisha Kemp named Student Hairstylist of the Year. And in 2024, three of the five finalists were our students, including winner, Kaitlyn Rockwell.
The Aveda Institute is committed to helping our students achieve their full potential and perform as some of the top beauty professionals. We live our mission of “Developing future leaders in the world of beauty and wellness” by offering unique and exciting opportunities like photo shoots, fashion shows, and more.
2024 Finalist
Student Stylist: Julia Gates
Photo: Nohemi Capetillo
2024 Finalist
Student Stylist: Shaquan Burris
Photo: Nohemi Capetillo
WHAT IS UNPARALLELED EDUCATION?
Education is about more than just the classroom. The Aveda Institute provides opportunities for our students to participate in several unique and exciting events. We’ve been recognized by magazines and industry organizations for the quality of our education in no small part due to these events.
The North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) is the most prestigious photographic beauty competition in North America, celebrating the artistry and skill of the professional salon industry. Twenty-one of our students have been nominated for Student Hairstylist of the Year, with six winning the honor. In fact, one of our students has taken the win for two years in a row in 2020 and 2021!
Beacon is an annual event held in conjunction with the Professional Beauty Association’s Beauty Week to provide the nation’s top future professionals with the guidance to achieve maximum career success. Beacon students attend the most celebrated industry events during PBA Beauty Week, including the PBA Symposium, the North American Hairstyling Awards, and Cosmoprof North America, and benefit from specially designed educational opportunities. To date, we have had 222 students selected as Beacon honorees!
Our Institutes have been recognized by Modern Salon Magazine’s Excellence in Education Awards for a number of categories, including:
• Facilities
• School Culture
• Community Involvement
• Technology
• Alumni Programs
• Placement
SUPERIOR EDUCATION BY DESIGN
Great salon and spa design can evoke another place, era, or state of being. It sparks emotion, whether that’s the vibrant energy of a cutting floor community, the creative show-and-tell spirit of the color bar, or the calming zen of the spa zone.
Each year, Salon Today Magazine recognizes salons, spas, and beauty schools for exemplary design. In 2023, the new Aveda Institute Indianapolis was named School of the Year.
This isn’t our first honor, though! The Aveda Institute Chapel Hill took home the honor in 2016 after opening its new facility. Our facilities are a reflection of our commitment to excellence in beauty education!
This annual student award competition was created to memorialize one of the greatest motivators in the Aveda network. A role model for all - Edwin Neill II not only believed in our mission, he lived it daily. His greatest memory will be his contribution to the youth of the beauty industry. The Edwin Neill II Full Potential Student Award emphasizes Edwin’s belief in team versus individual achievement, which he brought to our network.
Our family of Aveda Institutes swept the podium with first, second and third place winners in 2024. We have had winners in 2023, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2010. In 2023, we also won the Educator Team award, showing that our drive for excellence extends throughout the organization. We’re incredibly proud of all the hard work our students put into this competition and excited to see what our future students come up with!
2024 First Place Winners
Aveda Fredric’s Institute Indianapolis
Colorist: Dylan Green
Stylist: Nadia Hernandez
Makeup: Jaqueline Rodriguez
AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF OUR STUDENTS’ PASSION
Starting in 2004, our Aveda Institutes held an annual fashion benefit as a vehicle for our students to show off their talents and passion in a themed event that raised money for local charities. In 2021, Earth Jam evolved into a virtual event to continue to offer a unique opportunity for our students.
Each year, a competition is held at each of our locations in which students create hair and makeup looks inspired by the year’s
selected theme. The top looks from each Institute are selected to participate in a photo shoot with a renowned celebrity photographer. After the photo shoot, a panel of beauty professionals from around the country evaluate the images for their technical skill, interpretation of the theme, and more. The team with the highest scores from the panel is awarded a $2,000 scholarship for each member of the winning team.
2024 Virtual Earth Jam Winner
Student Stylist: Kanijah Anderson
Photo: Nick Spanos
Past themes have been the Ayurvedic Elements (earth, wind, fire, water, and infinity) and fashion designers, and icons of the beauty industry.
In 2024, our students celebrated the theme of Music. Each student selected a song to inspire their look.
Scan the QR code to the right to watch last year’s Earth Jam and see all the amazing work our students produced!
WATCH EARTH JAM 2024
2024 Virtual Earth Jam Finalist Student Stylist: Ellie Preussner
Photo: Nick Spanos
2024 Virtual Earth Jam Finalist Student Stylist: Olivia Zito
Photo: Nick Spanos
2024 Virtual Earth Jam Finalist Student Stylist: Norah Cotton
Photo: Nick Spanos
EXPERIENCE A FREE SERVICE
We’re excited to announce the Brilliant Future Scholarship. This is an opportunity for graduating high school seniors who start in our June, July or August classes to be awarded a scholarship toward their education!
2020 NAHA Finalist
Student Stylist: Kaitlyn Rudie
Photo: Keith Bryce
FINANCIAL AID EXPLAINED
Figuring out how you can afford to pursue your career in beauty can be intimidating. With all of the unfamiliar language and confusing acronyms, it’s easy to feel lost. But we’re here to help!
Here’s a quick overview of the financial aid process, as well as some common terms and acronyms explained!
FIGURE OUT YOUR OPTIONS
Your eligibility for certain loans and aid types depends on several factors: your age, dependency status, financial situation, and more. Our Financial Aid team is here to help you find out what you qualify for and to guide you through the process.
PELL GRANT
The Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program offered to undergraduates and is designed to assist students from low-income households. A Federal Pell Grant does not have to be repaid. To qualify for a Pell Grant, a student must demonstrate financial need through the FAFSA form.
FSA ID
An FSA ID consists of a username and password that gives you access to the U.S. Department of Education’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature when completing electronic documents.
FAFSA
Federal student aid is aid from the government in the form of grants, loans, and/or work-study to assist students with college or career school. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is the form students fill out to apply for this aid. To fill out the FAFSA, you will need the school codes below.
• Indianapolis - 041559
• Columbus - 041378
• Cincinnati - 038373
• Chapel Hill - 041407
• Wilmington - 013850
• Des Moines - 042033
STUDENT AID INDEX
Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is an index number that colleges use to determine how much financial aid
you’re eligible to receive. Your SAI is calculated based on the information you provided in Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
DIRECT SUBSIDIZED LOAN
A Direct Subsidized Loan is a federal student loan where a borrower isn’t responsible for paying interest while in an in-school, grace, or deferment period.
UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN
An unsubsidized loan through the Direct Loan Program offers students a low, fixed interest rate. It is not based on financial need.
PARENT PLUS LOAN
Direct PLUS Loans, otherwise known as Parent Plus Loans, are federal loans that parents of dependent undergraduate students use to help pay for education expenses.
Photo: Nohemi Capetillo