Cosmetology at Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers

Chattanooga College's cosmetology program punches well above its weight class, combining stronger-than-average earnings with remarkably manageable debt. At $20,488 in first-year earnings, graduates outpace 79% of cosmetology programs nationally and 60% within Tennessee—while carrying less than $5,500 in debt. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, meaning graduates owe roughly three months' salary, compared to the national median of seven months for cosmetology programs.

The program serves a predominantly low-income student population (90% receive Pell grants) yet produces outcomes that rival much more expensive alternatives. While top-tier Tennessee schools like The Salon Professional Academy push closer to $26,000 in first-year earnings, they typically come with substantially higher debt loads. Here, students graduate with about half the typical debt burden for cosmetology programs—$5,499 versus nearly $10,000 nationally—making this one of the most financially accessible paths into the field.

For families worried about beauty school debt spiraling out of control, this program offers a concrete counterexample. The combination of below-average borrowing and above-average earnings creates genuine breathing room for new graduates building their client base. It's not the highest-earning cosmetology program in Tennessee, but the financial structure makes it one of the smartest bets.