Cosmetology at Aveda Institute-Maryland

The earnings trajectory here tells a more optimistic story than the first-year numbers suggest. While Aveda Institute-Maryland graduates start at $16,394—below both the national and Maryland medians—they see 34% earnings growth by year four, reaching $21,944. That puts them ahead of the state median and competitive with Maryland's top-performing cosmetology programs, which cluster around $20,000-$21,000.

The debt picture is notably better than typical Maryland cosmetology programs, where the median is $12,583. At $9,833, graduates here are borrowing about 22% less than their in-state peers, which matters when starting salaries are in the mid-teens. The 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with about seven months of first-year earnings—manageable for a field where many work variable hours while building clientele.

The challenge is that even with strong growth, $21,944 after four years is still modest income. This program works if you understand cosmetology as a foundation for entrepreneurship or specialized services where earnings aren't captured in W-2 data. For students seeking a credential with manageable debt to enter the beauty industry, particularly those building toward salon ownership or high-end services, this delivers a reasonable starting point with below-average financial burden.