Cosmetology at College of Hair Design-East Campus

College of Hair Design's East Campus program sits in an uncomfortable middle position: it beats most cosmetology programs nationwide (69th percentile) but trails its Nebraska competitors significantly. First-year earnings of $19,274 fall about $3,500 short of the state median, placing graduates in the bottom quarter of Nebraska programs. With Capitol Beauty School and several other local options producing graduates who earn $24,000-$26,000, families should ask why this program underperforms when the skill set is essentially standardized across the state.

The debt picture offers a partial answer to that value question. At $14,119, total borrowing here runs slightly above the state median but well below the bloated national average—and the 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically manage these payments. The 16% earnings bump by year four also suggests graduates build their client base steadily, though even at $22,383 they're still trailing what other Nebraska programs deliver right out of the gate.

For Nebraska families, this comes down to whether you're comfortable with your child earning $3,000-$6,000 less annually than classmates at competing schools nearby. The debt is manageable, but when other Lincoln-area programs produce better outcomes with similar costs, this looks like settling for less than what's available locally.