Cosmetology at California College of Barbering and Cosmetology

California College of Barbering and Cosmetology graduates earn nearly $5,500 more than the typical California cosmetology program graduate—a meaningful gap that places this Stockton school in the 80th percentile statewide. With first-year earnings of $20,065, graduates here also outpace the national median by almost $3,000, suggesting the program successfully connects students to better-paying positions in what's typically a lower-wage field.

The debt picture reinforces this advantage. At $9,344, borrowing sits just below both state and national medians, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5—manageable for a field where earnings start modest. Two-thirds of students receive Pell grants, indicating the school serves economically vulnerable students who need programs that deliver on their investment.

However, context matters: even strong performance in cosmetology means earning roughly $20,000 in year one. Parents should understand this reflects realistic industry wages rather than program failure. The relevant question is whether this school maximizes opportunity within those constraints, and the data suggests it does. Students here appear positioned in California's upper tier of cosmetology careers, a tangible advantage worth approximately $450 monthly compared to attending a median in-state program.