Is the Elaine Sterling Institute public or private?

The school is a private for-profit institution located in Atlanta, GA.

How many students at this school received Pell Grants?

Data shows that 64.2% of students received Pell Grants.

What is the typical student debt at completion?

The median student debt at completion is reported as $9,500.

What are the typical earnings for the cosmetology program?

Median earnings two years after completion for cosmetology are $20,140.

Home › Georgia › Cosmetology schools › Elaine Sterling Institute

Elaine Sterling Institute

Atlanta, Georgia · private for-profit · mainly awards certificates · 641 students · CosmetologyBarberingMassage Therapy

Avg net price / yr

$30,314

cheaper than 3% of comparable schools

Completion rate

63.5%

Median debt at completion

$9,500

Median earnings (10 yrs after entry)

not reported

About

The Elaine Sterling Institute is a private for-profit school in Atlanta, GA that mainly awards certificates in cosmetology and somatic bodywork. With 641 students enrolled, it serves those seeking career training in personal grooming and therapeutic services.

What to know

The average annual net price after aid is $30,314, while the typical student debt at completion is reported as $9,500. A solid completion rate of 63.5% shows how many students finish their programs. Earnings data for ten years after entry is not reported, but graduates in cosmetology earn a median of $20,140 two years after completion.

Net price is 187% above the Georgia median ($10,549) for schools offering these programs.

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Programs & what graduates earn

Program	Credential	Median earnings 2 yrs after completion
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	undergraduate certificate	$20,140
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services	undergraduate certificate	not reported

Get paid while you train instead

Registered apprenticeships are an alternative to paying for school — sponsors pay wages from day one. In Georgia:

Questions students ask

Is the Elaine Sterling Institute public or private?: The school is a private for-profit institution located in Atlanta, GA.
How many students at this school received Pell Grants?: Data shows that 64.2% of students received Pell Grants.
What is the typical student debt at completion?: The median student debt at completion is reported as $9,500.
How many students typically finish their programs?: The completion rate is 63.5%.
What are the typical earnings for the cosmetology program?: Median earnings two years after completion for cosmetology are $20,140.

Other options in Georgia

School	City	Net price / yr	Completion	Earnings (10 yr)
Albany Technical College	Albany	$4,524	44.5%	$30,541
Georgia Career Institute	Conyers	$14,966	70%	$23,686
Augusta Technical College	Augusta	$10,485	36.8%	$33,523
West Georgia Technical College	Waco	$2,457	35.5%	$35,479
Columbus Technical College	Columbus	$4,001	30.3%	$34,238
Georgia Northwestern Technical College	Rome	$5,720	47.9%	$35,759

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026), school ID 476887. Figures are federally reported medians and may lag current prices. "Not reported" means the federal dataset suppresses or lacks the value — often due to small cohort sizes. How we compute comparisons. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency or school.