
What is Lead?
The first degree designed with the beauty professional in mind
To create future beauty professionals and leaders for this fast-growing industry, ROLFS has partnered with Mesa Community College (MCC), Arizona State University (ASU), and L’Oréal USA Professional Products Division, and is proud to launch the first college and university degree for beauty professionals.

Advancing beauty professionals with accredited education is the future of our industry, and the goal of our program.
— Francis Tesmer, Lead | ROLFS Global Institute CEO
Who is Lead for?
The beauty professional who has the desire to elevate their career and embrace a new era in the beauty industry.
The $500-billion beauty industry is reinventing itself, and it demands more leaders with entrepreneurial spirit and experience than ever before. If you fit into one of the categories below, there’s a place for you in Lead’s degree program:
Beauty Professionals of the Future
- Current & graduated Cosmetology Students
- High school graduates who are interested in a career in beauty
- Individuals from other industries who are considering a career change
Beauty Professionals Embracing Transformation
- Licensed Stylists (1-2 years)
- Experienced Licensed Stylists (5-20 years)
- Salon Educators/Managers/Owners, etc



The Program
Through this accelerated program, students with their cosmetology license will receive college credit toward their associate degree, enabling them to earn their associate in two semesters and their bachelor’s degree in four.
Although Lead does not require a cosmetology license, licensed beauty professionals have the ability to earn their degrees in less time, with an associate’s degree taking one year and a bachelor’s degree taking two years. This program is the fastest, most cost effective, and most transformational degree offered.

Earning a higher education degree will get you the respect you deserve.
Two accelerated pathways to higher education designed for licensed beauty professionals. Simply select what is right for you.
In Partnership with Mesa Community College (MCC)
Earn an associate degree from a nationally accredited prestigious college. The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Beauty and Wellness from Mesa Community College (MCC) promotes progressive thinking skills and experiences to enhance personal growth and professional success, equipping you with the credentials needed to kickstart an exciting career in beauty. This interdisciplinary AAS is designed to provide students from around the world with business and financial acumen, effective and collaborative communication skills, critical thinking techniques, and leadership qualities to be empowered professionals. Students who complete this AAS have fundamental strategies to effectively and successfully implement innovative principles in the beauty industry to serve consumers. The AAS in Beauty and Wellness may transfer to Arizona State University (ASU) for the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Health, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship program with an emphasis on Personal Care for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
What do you get from Lead?
- Higher education and career path mapping
- Complete Enrollment Assistance
- Student Success Advisor
- Scholarship Opportunities
- College Preparation Courses
- Mentorship
- College Accredited, Industry Focused Curriculum
- Professional Development Training
- Personal Development Training
- Advanced Technical Training
- Job Placement Services
- Meet and interact with fellow aspiring beauty professionals worldwide
In Partnership with Arizona State University (ASU)
Take your career to the next level and establish yourself as a beauty professional of the future by earning a fast-tracked bachelor’s degree from ASU in just two years at an affordable tuition. In partnership with Mesa Community College (MCC), students around the globe can now earn the first-ever Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Beauty and Wellness and then apply to Arizona State University (ASU) for a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree program in Health, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation with an emphasis on Personal Care. This is an education transformation within the beauty industry that has never happened before.
What do you get from Lead?
- Higher education and career path mapping
- Complete Transfer Enrollment Assistance
- Student Success Advisor
- Scholarship Opportunities
- Mentorship
- College Accredited, Industry Focused Curriculum
- Professional Development Training
- Personal Growth Education
- Advanced Technical Training
- Job Placement Services
- Meet and interact with fellow aspiring beauty professionals worldwide
- European exchange student program
Lead Program Features
Online courses
Year-round flexible start dates (Fall/Winter, Spring/Summer)
Available in both full-time and part-time
Multiple financial assistance and/or scholarship options
Study from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world
Learn from some of the best professors and academic leaders
Why Lead?
We are the bridge to your future
Our Mission
It’s time to acknowledge the level of impact beauty professionals have in our lives. Every year an individual consults with a beauty professional over 48% more than a physician. This is why advancing the accredited education of beauty professionals is our mission. Lead is shaping the future of beauty by developing the minds and expanding the intellect of beauty professionals who maintain and restore our self-expression and well-being.
Our Significance
Like doctors, beauty professionals examine clients, review their history, diagnose conditions, administer treatment, and counsel clients on their outer and inner self-care and well-being. Yet the significance of beauty professionals’ impact and the prestige of their profession has been undermined. At Lead, we are equipping our students with the knowledge to elevate their lives and to launch the modern beauty experience.

Lead the future
Learn from leading professionals

Advocate respect for the profession
Acquire an innovative mindset

Elevate the beauty industry
Get a degree. Earn a career. Elevate your world. Increase your potential.
Student Stories
Enrollment Deadlines
The application for the spring/summer semester is currently open. June 1st, 2022 is the next deadline.
Our Partners
LEAD | ROLFS Global Institute has partnered with Mesa Community College (MCC), Arizona State University (ASU), and L’Oréal USA Professional Products Division (L’Oréal PPD) to create a whole new era in beauty filled with prestige and financial stability. Together, these partners pave the way for the next generation of beauty professionals, leaders, and innovators.
Scholarships
$1M+
ROLFS invests in the beauty professionals of the future by providing scholarships, empowering them to transform their lives. ROLFS has awarded over $1 million dollars in scholarships to beauty professionals, enabling them to enter into the workforce and enjoy a whole new level of financial success, personal fulfillment, and happiness.