Cosmetology at American Institute of Beauty

American Institute of Beauty graduates earn slightly above the median for cosmetology programs in Florida—ranking at the 60th percentile statewide—but the real story is how far behind they lag the state's top performers. While their first-year earnings of $18,327 beat the typical Florida cosmetology grad by about $1,600, students at Florida State College at Jacksonville earn over $29,000, and even mid-tier state programs deliver earnings in the low-to-mid $20,000s. That gap matters when you're trying to pay off debt on beauty industry wages.

The debt load here is manageable at $9,500, representing about six months of first-year earnings. With 75% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a largely low-income population for whom any debt carries weight, but the ratio isn't alarming. Earnings do grow 11% by year four, reaching $20,263—modest but heading in the right direction.

For families weighing cosmetology training in Florida, this program offers middle-of-the-pack results at middle-of-the-pack cost. If your child can access one of Florida's top-performing state college cosmetology programs—particularly Florida State College at Jacksonville or Palm Beach State—the substantially higher earnings would justify shopping around. But if proximity or admission constraints make American Institute of Beauty the practical choice, the debt burden won't become unmanageable, even if the financial upside is limited.