Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City
Rapid City, SD 57701
About Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is a private for-profit trade school in Rapid City, South Dakota, enrolling about 66 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. The published completion rate is about 87.50% at 150% of normal time. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $29,547 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $29,547.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 275% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City | — | $19,694 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| South Dakota (state median) | $8,845 | $15,911 | 19 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City really?
Evidence: average net price at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is $19,694.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $19,694 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $3,783 above the South Dakota median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $4,723 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Avg. net price
$19,694
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $17,122 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,376 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,626 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $24,848 |
| $110,001+ | $25,771 |
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is known for
Top program completions
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist20
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General17
- Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage11
- Real Estate Development6
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City.
Campus
Location
Rapid City, SD
City / state
- ZIP
- 57701
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 32% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Plains
Size
Enrollment
66
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 104
- Full-time share
- 97%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$7,917
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 56.92%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional where not shown.
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | — | — | $10,550 |
| 2014 | — | — | $9,187 |
| 2015 | — | — | $7,788 |
| 2016 | — | — | $8,221 |
| 2017 | — | — | $9,065 |
| 2018 | — | — | $9,914 |
| 2019 | — | — | $13,410 |
| 2020 | — | — | $10,664 |
| 2021 | — | — | $15,546 |
| 2022 | — | — | $19,704 |
| 2023 | — | — | $21,014 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City reported total enrollment of about 66 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 8% male and 92% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (75.8%), American Indian or Alaska Native (18.2%), and Two or More Races (3.0%). About 56.92% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 32.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City in 2024 is 66 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 104 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
80.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
5.00% 100% Completion Time
87.50% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 5.00% of students graduating from Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist: 0% male / 100% female
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 0% male / 100% female
- Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage: 9% male / 91% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City graduates earn a median of $29,547 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $29,547. Median federal loan debt: $7,917. Average net price used in cost models: $19,694.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City graduates report median earnings of $29,547 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 4 programs by IPEDS completions (5 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,311
- South Dakota median 0.71× the median ($7,480)
- Plains median 0.65× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 0.73× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City at a glance
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is a private for-profit institution in Rapid City, SD.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care SpecialistCosmetology/Cosmetologist, GeneralMassage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian75.8%American Indian or Alaska Native18.2%Two or More Races3.0%
Schools near Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City
Other campuses in Rapid City, SD when available, plus nearby institutions in South Dakota.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within South Dakota, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City located?
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is located in Rapid City, SD.
How much does Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City cost?
Reported tuition is N/A and average net price is $19,694 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What explains Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($19,694), completion (87.5% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($29,547). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City?
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City reports undergraduate enrollment of about 104 students, White (75.8%), American Indian or Alaska Native (18.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City?
About 32.7% of students at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City earn?
Median earnings are $22,585 six years after entry and $29,547 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City?
The 150%-time completion rate is 87.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $7,917.
Is Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City public or private?
Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is a private for-profit institution located in Rapid City, SD.
Is Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City an HBCU?
No. Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City a tribal college?
No. Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City does not meet that proxy (reported share 0.0%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- South Dakota college profile
- South Dakota college costs
- South Dakota colleges by ROI
- South Dakota trade schools profile
- Rapid City, South Dakota city profile
- Plains regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in South Dakota
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.