NACIQI Recommends Denying Recognition to Cosmetology Accreditor

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity voted 9–3 to recommend that the U.S. Department of Education deny renewed federal recognition to the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s largest accreditors of cosmetology and massage therapy programs. The recommendation cites concerns about the agency’s compliance with federal recognition standards, including weak oversight of member institutions, limited transparency about accreditation status, poor student outcomes such as low graduation rates and earnings, and high student debt relative to graduates’ income. If the Education Department adopts the recommendation, more than 1,000 accredited institutions could ultimately lose access to federal student aid unless they secure accreditation from another recognized agency, though the Department’s under secretary will make the final decision. Inside Higher Ed reports that the recommendation reflects growing federal scrutiny of accreditors’ responsibility for student outcomes and comes as the Department moves toward requiring accreditors to incorporate minimum graduate earnings standards into their oversight of institutions.