Career Training Path › Florida › Meridian College
Meridian College
Sarasota, Florida · Private for-profit career college
Address: 7020 Professional Pkwy E, Sarasota, FL 34240 · Phone: (941) 377-4880 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Meridian College is a private for-profit trade school in Sarasota, FL offering cosmetology, radiology/sonography, and dental assistant programs, accredited by ACCSC.
Meridian College's completion rate is 50.6%, below the state average of 70.5%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; median graduate debt is $13,000 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $33,735.
Annual cost of attendance at Meridian College is reported at $33,683; federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used, and 53.6% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $27,450 | $29,530 | $35,090 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $51,390 | $76,750 | $82,650 |
| Dental assistants | $37,800 | $47,620 | $54,690 |
| Medical assistants | $35,880 | $43,680 | $46,800 |
| Medical records specialists | $36,330 | $45,760 | $59,230 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Florida (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 19 | not reported | not reported | $10,819 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 16 | $30,721 | $31,670 | $27,000 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | $24,543 | not reported | $9,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | $26,321 | $25,194 | $13,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | $29,685 | $13,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Meridian College is a private for-profit trade and career school located in Sarasota, Florida. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, and students can use federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, to attend. The campus awards programs across six program families, with its top programs being cosmetology schools, radiology & sonography programs, and dental assistant schools.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 50.6%, which is below the state average of 70.5% for similar programs. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $13,000, and median earnings ten years after entry were $33,735. The annual cost of attendance is reported at $33,683, and 53.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of low-income students enrolled at this campus.
With 163 undergraduate students and 56 recent trade completers, this is a small campus located in a small city setting. The program families offered—cosmetology, radiology/sonography, dental assisting, medical assisting, and medical billing/coding—suggest a fit for students seeking direct-entry career training in healthcare support and personal care fields rather than multi-year degree study; whether this suits an adult career changer specifically is not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify accreditation status directly with the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and review current outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Meridian College offers programs across six families, with the top programs being cosmetology schools, radiology & sonography programs, and dental assistant schools. Other program families include medical assistant programs and medical billing/coding.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Meridian College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), with a current status of Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid, meaning FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used to help cover costs.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 50.6%, which is below the Florida state average of 70.5% for comparable programs, per federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $13,000, according to federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates ten years after entry are $33,735, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The reported annual cost of attendance is $33,683.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Meridian College is a private for-profit institution. This can affect tuition pricing and institutional funding compared to public or non-profit schools, though accreditation and federal aid eligibility still apply.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (941) 377-4880 or visit https://www.meridian.edu/ for program schedules.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation with the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges and review official outcomes data at the College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?244279.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
This is not reported for this campus in federal data; the program mix in healthcare support and cosmetology fields suggests direct-entry training, but fit for career changers specifically should be confirmed with the school.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm requirements for specific programs.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Meridian College by phone at (941) 377-4880 or through its website at https://www.meridian.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?244279 to compare similar institutions.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.