Cosmetology at Arkansas State University-Newport

Arkansas State University-Newport's cosmetology certificate produces first-year earnings of $15,140—below the national median but actually outperforming 60% of Arkansas programs despite ranking in just the 28th percentile nationally. That's because Arkansas cosmetology salaries tend to run lower than the national average ($14,450 vs. $17,113), making this program's performance more respectable in local context than the national ranking suggests.

The $7,250 in typical student debt sits well below both state and national medians, which is the program's strongest selling point. At a 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates owe roughly half their first-year income—manageable compared to many career training programs. However, it's worth noting that top Arkansas programs like Arkansas Beauty School-Little Rock produce earnings 40% higher ($21,161) with likely similar time investment, raising questions about whether location or program quality explains the gap.

The key limitation here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in this data set—so individual outcomes could vary considerably. For families committed to staying in the Newport area, the below-average debt load makes this accessible. But if your child has flexibility on location, stronger-performing Arkansas programs offer notably better earning potential without necessarily requiring more debt or time to complete.