The Trump administration is currently considering the fate of an accrediting agency that oversees approximately 1,300 beauty and cosmetology schools, a decision that could affect federal student aid for more than 120,000 students.
The National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) is under review by the U.S. Department of Education. The agency's recognition is typically renewed every five years through a process involving departmental staff recommendations, an independent advisory committee's input, and a final judgment by a senior department official.
While Department of Education staff recommended continuing NACCAS's federal recognition with specific restrictions, additional reporting, and enhanced monitoring, the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) took a more stringent stance. At its July meeting, NACIQI voted 9-3 to recommend that the department deny NACCAS renewed recognition.
Department of Education staff identified deficiencies with NACCAS but proposed a path for compliance, including prohibiting the accreditor from taking on new institutions until it demonstrates compliance, completing corrective actions within 12 months, and submitting further reports. This approach contrasts with NACIQI's recommendation to deny recognition outright.
Students at NACCAS-accredited institutions rely on federal student aid to fund their education. For many, attending cosmetology school would not be possible without this financial support. Aliyah Fernandez, a recent graduate, stated that federal aid was essential for her to attend beauty school, allowing her to pursue a career that would enable her to support her family while being present in her child's life.
Blythe Fields, an expectant mother currently studying cosmetology, shared a similar experience. She previously paid out-of-pocket for esthetician school, which depleted her savings. Federal financial aid, she explained, has allowed her to continue her education while working, providing the flexibility needed to raise her child.
Fernandez and Fields are among those who have started a petition urging the Department of Education not to adopt NACIQI's recommendation for denial. Instead, they advocate for a monitored improvement period that would allow NACCAS to address identified issues while maintaining its accreditation status. They understand the concerns raised by federal officials but believe a complete termination of accreditation would be disproportionate given the number of students who depend on it.
The debate surrounding NACCAS differs from some of the accreditation issues President Trump has previously highlighted. His administration has focused on concerns that accreditors might impose DEI requirements on institutions. However, the current review of NACCAS centers on its compliance with federal regulations and oversight standards, rather than allegations related to DEI mandates.
Zakiya Smith Ellis, a former Obama administration official who served on NACIQI, supported the motion to deny NACCAS recognition, citing past opportunities for compliance and concerns about student debt and earnings at accredited institutions. Conversely, Robert Eitel, who served in the Department of Education during the Trump administration's first term, voted against denial, arguing for corrective measures and expressing concern for the potential impact on students and schools.