Cosmetology at Dawn Career Institute LLC

Dawn Career Institute's cosmetology program graduates earn just $13,271 in their first year—significantly below both the state median ($19,099) and the national average ($17,113). Among Delaware's six cosmetology programs, this ranks in the bottom 10th percentile. To put that in perspective, graduates from Hair Academy School of Barbering & Beauty nearly double these initial earnings at $25,168, while even Paul Mitchell the School-Delaware starts graduates at nearly $20,000.

The stronger point here is earnings growth: income jumps 47% by year four to $19,454, eventually reaching competitive levels. However, starting at barely above minimum wage creates real financial stress during those critical early years when graduates are repaying their $9,312 in student debt. That 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio means the first year's income barely covers living expenses, let alone loan payments.

For families investing in cosmetology training in Delaware, this program's trajectory suggests delayed returns compared to alternatives. The 41% Pell Grant rate indicates this serves financially vulnerable students who may struggle most with those lean early years. Unless there's a compelling reason to choose Dawn Career Institute—perhaps location or scheduling flexibility—higher-performing Delaware programs offer better immediate earning potential without significantly more debt.