Cosmetology at Alamo City Barber College

Alamo City Barber College graduates earn roughly $13,000 annually—about $3,200 below the Texas median for cosmetology programs and nearly $4,000 below the national average. Perhaps more concerning, earnings actually decline over the first four years rather than grow, suggesting graduates may struggle to build sustainable careers in the field. Within Texas, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of the state's cosmetology programs produce better outcomes.

The $11,200 in debt isn't catastrophic on its own, but when your child's annual income barely exceeds that amount, the repayment burden becomes significant. Compare this to top-performing Texas programs like Paul Mitchell the School-Austin, where graduates earn more than twice as much while taking on similar debt levels. Given that 75% of students here rely on Pell grants, many families are using federal aid to access a program that underperforms most alternatives in the state.

For families considering cosmetology training in San Antonio, this data suggests looking at other options. The earnings trajectory here doesn't support the investment, even with relatively modest debt. Your child would be better served researching higher-performing Texas programs where graduates actually increase their earnings over time and start at substantially higher income levels.