Cosmetology at Blue Cliff College-Metairie

This Blue Cliff College cosmetology program offers an unusual combination: significantly higher debt than typical but relatively competitive earnings within Louisiana. While graduates earn around $15,719 in their first year—below the national average of $17,113—they actually outperform the Louisiana median of $15,617, ranking in the 60th percentile among state programs.

The debt picture tells an important story. At $16,535, graduates carry substantially more debt than both the national median ($9,862) and Louisiana median ($12,886), placing this program in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt levels. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.05 means graduates typically owe roughly what they'll earn in their first year, which is manageable for a certificate program. The modest 5% earnings growth over four years suggests this field offers stable but limited income progression.

For Louisiana families, this program performs reasonably well against in-state competition, though several academies like VH Barber & Styling Academy produce graduates earning $3,000-4,000 more annually. The high Pell Grant participation (78%) indicates this serves students from lower-income backgrounds who may have limited alternatives. While the debt load is concerning, the program does deliver competitive Louisiana earnings and maintains reasonable debt serviceability for students committed to cosmetology careers.