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Milan Institute-Merced
Merced, California · Private for-profit career college
Address: 780 Loughborough Drive, Merced, CA 95340 · Phone: (209) 230-9420 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Sep 2024 · Probation · Council on Occupational Education; Mar 2025 · Renewal of Accreditation. 2 sanction actions in the window.
Milan Institute-Merced is a private for-profit trade school in Merced, CA offering esthetician, cosmetology, and medical assistant programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Milan Institute-Merced has a 54.7% completion rate, below the California state average of 64.2%, with median graduate debt of $6,333 and median earnings of $24,879 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance at Milan Institute-Merced is $27,338, federal financial aid including Pell Grants can be used since the school participates in Title IV, and 65.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare specialists | $34,650 | $38,770 | $54,110 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $35,360 | $38,660 | $49,030 |
| Medical assistants | $39,290 | $49,660 | $61,870 |
| Barbers | $35,900 | $38,380 | $44,790 |
| Dental assistants | $38,790 | $50,110 | $60,670 |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | $34,840 | $36,630 | $39,590 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (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, 300–899 hours | 59 | $16,005 | $13,898 | $6,333 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 37 | $16,005 | $13,898 | $6,333 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 32 | $22,036 | $20,182 | $9,235 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 15 | $16,005 | $13,898 | $6,333 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 13 | $21,530 | $20,482 | $8,386 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | $16,005 | $13,898 | $6,333 |
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
Milan Institute-Merced is a private for-profit career school located in Merced, California. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning students may use FAFSA-based aid such as Pell Grants to help pay for training. The campus offers six program families, with the largest enrollments in esthetician schools, cosmetology schools, and medical assistant programs.
Federal data show a completion rate of 54.7%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $6,333, and median earnings 10 years after entry were $24,879. The annual cost of attendance is reported at $27,338, and 65.0% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a large share of low-income students at this campus.
This school may suit students interested in shorter, hands-on training in esthetics, cosmetology, barbering, dental assisting, nail technology, or medical assisting rather than a multi-year associate or bachelor's degree; the setting is a small city campus. Program lengths and schedules are not reported for this campus in federal data, so prospective students should contact the school directly. Anyone considering enrollment should verify accreditation status with the Council on Occupational Education and review outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before committing.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Milan Institute-Merced offers six program families, most notably esthetician schools, cosmetology schools, and medical assistant programs, along with barber, dental assistant, and nail technician training.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its accreditation status is listed as Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants can be used here.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 54.7%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $6,333, according to federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $24,879.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The reported annual cost of attendance is $27,338.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Milan Institute-Merced is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition costs and institutional funding compared to public or non-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (209) 230-9420 or via its website for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation with the Council on Occupational Education and review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?482060.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The program mix leans toward shorter, hands-on trade training rather than multi-year degrees, which may suit career changers, but specific scheduling and pacing details are not reported in federal data; contact the school to confirm.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements for fields like cosmetology, esthetics, or medical assisting are not reported in federal data; contact the school directly for state licensing information.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Milan Institute-Merced at (209) 230-9420 or visit https://www.milaninstitute.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; use the College Scorecard link to compare outcomes across 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.