The Trump administration is currently assessing the role of an accreditor overseeing around 1,300 beauty and cosmetology schools, affecting over 120,000 students. This decision is critical as it extends beyond the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) debates, focusing instead on the future of accreditation in higher education. President Donald Trump previously promised to address accreditation issues during his campaign, labeling accreditation as his ‘secret weapon’ against politically influenced institutions.
Currently, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is examining whether the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) has fulfilled federal requirements. This review differs from other accreditation disputes because it is not centered on DEI allegations.
“Many beauty and cosmetology schools could lose their official accreditations under the Department of Education’s ongoing review,” according to iStock.
For students, accreditation by a DOE-recognized body is essential to access federal student aid programs. NACCAS claims to accredit about 1,300 institutions with over 120,000 students in related programs. DOE staff found deficiencies with NACCAS but recommended maintaining its recognition with conditions and monitoring to ensure compliance.
The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) advocated more stringent measures in its July meeting, voting 9-3 to recommend denial of NACCAS’s renewed recognition.
The DOE follows a three-step process to review accreditor recognition every five years: DOE staff makes a recommendation, the independent bipartisan NACIQI provides its input, and a senior department official makes the final decision based on both assessments.
Some students express concerns over federal processes affecting their education funding. Many could not afford beauty school without federal financial aid, which they say has been crucial to pursuing their careers.
Aliyah Fernandez, a Hollywood Institute cosmetology graduate, says federal aid made her education feasible. She emphasizes the importance of supporting both her financial independence and her presence in her daughter’s life through her career.
Blythe Fields, another cosmetology student and expectant mother, notes that federal aid allowed her to continue her education, highlighting the flexibility of cosmetology as vital for raising her child.
Fernandez and Fields initiated a petition requesting the DOE to adopt a monitored improvement period for NACCAS rather than an outright denial of accreditation, acknowledging the need for compliance but arguing against complete termination due to its wide impact.
The debate over NACCAS’s recognition highlights differing opinions on whether identified compliance issues justify oversight continuation or recognition denial. DOE staff advocated conditions on accrediting new institutions and mandated compliance within 12 months, but NACIQI recommended complete denial.
Zakiya Smith Ellis, a former DOE official, led the motion to deny NACCAS recognition, citing insufficient corrective actions despite opportunities given. She also raised concerns about debt and earnings among institutions accredited by NACCAS.
Three committee members opposed the denial, suggesting corrective measures instead. Robert Eitel, a former DOE official, expressed worries about the consequences of recognition loss for schools and students.
The proceedings deviate from the accreditation policies Trump emphasized, which focused on possible DEI-related discrimination. Instead, this review concerns compliance and oversight without alleging DEI imposition by NACCAS.
Smith Ellis defended DEI policies in the past and served in the DOE during the Obama administration. When Fox News Digital asked about her stance on denial, she did not comment.
Fields contrasts beauty careers with trades like plumbing or welding, both seen as typically male and less scrutinized in accreditation issues. She believes beauty training offers career stability while allowing her to fulfill familial duties.
The White House, NACCAS, and the Hollywood Institute of Beauty have yet to respond to requests for comments from Fox News Digital. Jasmine Baehr, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital, contributed to this report.
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