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Universal Spa Training Academy
Downers Grove, Illinois · Private for-profit career school
Address: 340 Burlington Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515 · Phone: (630) 968-6800 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Oct 2024 · Monitoring · National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences; Mar 2025 · Renewal of Accreditation.
Universal Spa Training Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Downers Grove, Illinois, offering esthetician, massage therapy, and cosmetology programs, accredited by NACCAS.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Universal Spa Training Academy has a 96.5% completion rate versus a 58.4% state average, with median graduate debt of $7,283 and median earnings of $41,928 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance at Universal Spa Training Academy is $24,756, federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used, and 37.7% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare specialists | $31,200 | $45,330 | $47,360 |
| Massage therapists | $33,770 | $60,490 | $77,550 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $31,200 | $34,040 | $41,110 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Illinois (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 | 168 | $23,043 | $25,967 | $7,917 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | $24,840 | $19,797 | $6,861 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | $23,043 | $25,967 | $7,917 |
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
Universal Spa Training Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Downers Grove, Illinois. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here. The campus awards the most credentials in esthetician programs, followed by massage therapy and cosmetology programs.
Federal data show a completion rate of 96.5%, well above the state average of 58.4% for similar programs. Graduates carry a median debt of $7,283, and median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $41,928. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $24,756, and 37.7% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of low-income enrollment.
This campus may suit students seeking short, hands-on programs in esthetics, massage therapy, or cosmetology rather than multi-year associate degrees, though exact program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Career changers interested in personal-care trades may want to confirm scheduling and program length directly with the school. Prospective students can verify accreditation status through the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and review official outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Universal Spa Training Academy offers esthetician programs, massage therapy programs, and cosmetology programs, with esthetician training representing the largest share of completions (168 of 188 total).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), 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 students may use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 96.5%, which is above the state average of 58.4% per federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is reported at $7,283.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $41,928.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is listed at $24,756.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a private for-profit school, meaning it operates as a business rather than a publicly funded or nonprofit institution; this can affect tuition pricing and financial aid terms compared with public schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (630) 968-6800 or via its website for schedule details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation through NACCAS and review official completion, debt, and earnings data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?459374.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Program length and schedule details needed to assess adult career-changer fit are not reported for this campus in federal data; the school's focus on esthetics, massage, and cosmetology suggests hands-on, licensure-oriented training, but confirming schedule flexibility requires contacting the school.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Specific licensing requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; prospective students should check Illinois state licensing rules for estheticians, massage therapists, and cosmetologists directly.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Universal Spa Training Academy by phone at (630) 968-6800 or through its website at https://www.spatrainingacademy.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby trade schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across schools.
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.