Cosmetology at Carolina College of Hair Design Inc

Carolina College of Hair Design manages to keep debt remarkably low at $6,000—less than half the state median and among the lowest in North Carolina. That matters because cosmetology graduates typically start with modest earnings, and this school's $15,026 first-year median is below both state and national averages. Among NC cosmetology programs, this ranks around the 40th percentile, meaning graduates at nearby community colleges like Gaston or Wake Technical earn 50-80% more in their first year.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 looks manageable on paper, but the absolute earnings figure creates challenges. Even with minimal debt, making $15,000 annually leaves little financial breathing room. The sample size is small here—fewer than 30 graduates—so individual circumstances could skew these numbers significantly. Still, the pattern is clear when you compare to top NC programs where graduates often exceed $22,000.

If your child chooses this path, the low debt load is a genuine advantage, but recognize they'll likely need to build their clientele and skills considerably to reach earnings closer to what other NC programs deliver right out of school. The modest investment won't create a debt burden, but it may not accelerate their earning potential as effectively as programs at the state's community colleges.