Cosmetology at Academy of Professional Cosmetology

Academy of Professional Cosmetology's outcomes raise immediate concerns. First-year graduates earn just $11,572—about $3,000 below the state median for Arkansas cosmetology programs and in the bottom 5% nationally. Even among Arkansas's 33 cosmetology programs, this ranks only at the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state options deliver better starting earnings. Students at Arkansas Beauty School in Little Rock, for instance, earn nearly double ($21,161) right out of the gate.

The debt load of $8,498 might seem manageable in absolute terms, but it represents 73% of first-year earnings—a troubling ratio when graduates are earning under $12,000 annually. While earnings do improve to $16,135 by year four (a 39% increase), that's still barely above poverty-level wages and well below what Arkansas's better cosmetology programs achieve in year one. The lower debt compared to the state median ($8,498 vs. $11,750) offers little comfort when paired with such weak earning potential.

For parents weighing this investment, the math is straightforward: Arkansas offers multiple cosmetology programs with significantly stronger outcomes. Before committing, you should explore why this program's graduates start so far behind their peers and whether the modest earnings growth over four years justifies the cost when stronger alternatives exist in-state.