Cosmetology at Beauty Academy of South Florida

Beauty Academy of South Florida's cosmetology program leaves graduates earning about $14,000 annually—roughly $3,000 below Florida's median for cosmetology programs and $3,200 below the national average. Among Florida's 127 cosmetology schools, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of programs in the state produce better outcomes. The gap becomes stark when you consider nearby alternatives: Palm Beach State College graduates earn $24,000, while Florida State College at Jacksonville tops $29,000. That's not a minor difference—it's potentially $10,000+ more per year for doing the same work.

The debt load of $7,386 sits below both state and national medians, which offers some relief. However, with earnings remaining flat at around $14,000 four years out, you're looking at modest income that doesn't grow over time. At half your first-year earnings, the debt is manageable in absolute terms, but the real cost is the opportunity lost by not attending a stronger program.

For parents, the calculation is straightforward: your child could complete a cosmetology certificate elsewhere in Florida and potentially double their earning power. Before committing here, visit schools like Palm Beach State or Pensacola State that deliver substantially better financial outcomes. The lower tuition at Beauty Academy isn't enough to offset years of reduced earnings in a field where location and training quality clearly matter.