Cosmetology at Celebrity Stylist Beauty School

Starting earnings under $15,000 should immediately raise concerns, even for a cosmetology program. Celebrity Stylist graduates earn $14,178 in their first year—17% below the Louisiana median and 45% below top in-state programs like VH Barber & Styling Academy ($19,545). While the program ranks at the 40th percentile among Louisiana's 43 cosmetology schools (meaning it's solidly middle-of-the-pack for the state), it falls to just the 21st percentile nationally. The debt load of $13,833 is slightly above Louisiana's typical $12,886, creating a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio that makes monthly loan payments difficult on a stylist's starting wage.

There is a silver lining: earnings grow 30% by year four, reaching $18,486. That's meaningful growth in percentage terms, though it still leaves graduates below where many peers start. The bigger issue is that more than half of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from lower-income families who can least afford a program with below-average outcomes. Keep in mind these numbers come from a small graduating class, so individual results may vary significantly.

For families considering this path, the math is straightforward: your child would likely earn more and owe less at several other Louisiana cosmetology schools. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to choose Celebrity Stylist—location, schedule flexibility, specific instructors—the data suggests looking at higher-ranked programs first.