Cosmetology at Alexander Academy

With 74% of students receiving Pell grants, Alexander Academy serves a predominantly low-income population, making the $15,615 first-year earnings particularly concerning. This falls below both the Massachusetts median ($17,390) and the national average ($17,113) for cosmetology programs—and sits well below top-performing Massachusetts schools like Catherine Hinds Institute, where graduates earn $26,234. The slight earnings decline to $15,058 by year four suggests limited income growth in the field, at least for graduates from this program.

The debt level of $9,500 is relatively modest and close to state and national norms, translating to a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, the real challenge is the earning potential itself: Massachusetts cosmetologists at other schools earn substantially more right out of the gate. For a family investing in their child's education, this means potentially years of struggle to reach financial independence on under $16,000 annually.

The small sample size here matters—fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, so individual circumstances could skew these numbers significantly. But even accounting for that uncertainty, families should know that stronger-performing cosmetology programs exist throughout Massachusetts, offering similar training with demonstrably better earning outcomes. If cosmetology is the goal, comparing options carefully could mean the difference between financial stability and ongoing hardship.