Cosmetology at Central Texas Beauty College-Temple

Graduates from Central Texas Beauty College-Temple earn about $16,000 in their first year—roughly $2,500 less than the top cosmetology programs in Texas and trailing both state and national medians. With 151 cosmetology programs across Texas, this school lands squarely in the middle of the pack at the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten comparable programs produce higher earnings. The modest $7,000 debt load offers some consolation, though it's worth noting that even the lowest-debt scenario here still means starting with a debt burden that equals nearly half your first-year income.

The 14% earnings growth over four years helps, pushing graduates to around $18,200, but this remains well below what alumni from Austin and Houston-area programs achieve right out of the gate. For a program serving predominantly lower-income students (61% receive Pell grants), these outcomes matter enormously—there's little margin for error when your starting salary barely clears $1,300 monthly before taxes.

If your child is set on cosmetology and Texas residency, the relatively low debt here makes this program viable, but not competitive. The state's top programs deliver 60-70% higher earnings with manageable debt increases. Temple's location may offer lower living costs than Austin, but that advantage doesn't offset the substantial earnings gap that persists even four years into graduates' careers.