Cosmetology at Academy of Beauty Professionals

At just under $10,000 in debt, Academy of Beauty Professionals keeps costs reasonable—close to what you'd expect both nationally and across Wisconsin cosmetology schools. That's the good news. The challenge is that graduates earn about $19,000 in their first year, which is actually solid nationally (64th percentile) but falls short of what other Wisconsin cosmetology programs deliver. The state median sits at $21,659, and several Wisconsin technical colleges place graduates earning $25,000 or more right out of school.

That $2,000-$3,000 earnings gap matters when you're living on a cosmetology salary. The program shows modest 5% earnings growth over four years, which is typical for the field but won't dramatically change the financial picture. With nearly half the students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on every dollar of that starting wage.

If staying local in the Appleton area is essential, the manageable debt load means this won't saddle your child with crushing payments. But if location is flexible, it's worth comparing carefully against Wisconsin's technical college options—places like Waukesha County Technical College or Chippewa Valley Technical College that are launching graduates into the field with 30-40% higher starting pay for similar debt levels.