Cosmetology at Academy of Hair Design-Las Vegas

Graduates from the Academy of Hair Design-Las Vegas earn roughly $3,300 less per year than the typical Nevada cosmetology program graduate—placing this program in just the 25th percentile statewide. With first-year earnings of $14,299, these graduates make about $3,400 below the state median and nearly $3,000 below the national average. That gap matters in a competitive Nevada market where the top programs like International Academy of Style produce graduates earning $26,000+, nearly double what you'd expect here.

The debt load of $9,468 isn't unusually high for cosmetology programs, but it creates a difficult starting point when paired with such low earnings. You're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66, meaning graduates carry debt equivalent to two-thirds of their first year's income. While earnings do grow 15% by year four, reaching $16,403, that's still well below what other Nevada programs deliver right out of the gate. With 60% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already working with limited resources.

For Nevada families, this program sits in the bottom quarter of available options. Unless location is the deciding factor, other Las Vegas-area schools like Avalon Institute deliver significantly stronger earning potential for similar debt levels.