Cosmetology at Brown Beauty Barber School

The $16,500 debt load here should concern any parent, especially when first-year earnings barely clear $16,000. While Brown Beauty's graduates earn more than half of Alabama's cosmetology programs, that's a low bar—the state's median earnings for this credential are identical to what this school produces. The debt burden, however, is 33% higher than Alabama's typical cosmetology program debt. That math means your graduate will be earning roughly a dollar for every dollar they borrowed, making it extremely difficult to pay down the loan while covering basic living expenses.

The small sample size adds uncertainty, but one thing is clear: Alabama's top cosmetology programs show what's possible in this market. Lurleen B Wallace Community College graduates earn nearly $21,000 their first year, 30% more than Brown Beauty's figure, likely with lower debt as a community college. With 71% of Brown Beauty students receiving Pell grants, these are families who particularly can't afford to take on debt that matches an entire year's earnings.

Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend this specific school, they'd be better served by Alabama's community college options or the top-performing programs in the state. The difference between $16,000 and $21,000 in annual earnings makes loan repayment far more manageable.