Cosmetology at Daytona State College

Daytona State College's cosmetology program punches above its weight, earning graduates nearly $4,000 more than Florida's typical cosmetology program while carrying just $5,807 in debt—about half the state median. That combination places it in the 60th percentile among Florida's 127 cosmetology programs while ranking in the 77th percentile nationally. The debt load is minimal enough that graduates could realistically pay it off within months of working full-time, even at salon wages.

The downside is earnings trajectory: graduates actually earn slightly less four years out ($18,615) than they do initially. This backward slide isn't unusual in cosmetology, where income often depends more on building a client base and chair rental arrangements than on years of experience. Still, $20,212 right after graduation represents a solid starting point for a field where earnings can grow through tips, product commissions, and eventually booth rental or salon ownership—income streams that federal data doesn't capture.

For parents worried about education debt, this program offers one of the safest bets in beauty school. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means your child would owe less than three months of their first-year salary, and they're outearning most Florida cosmetology grads from day one. Just recognize that career advancement in this field comes from entrepreneurship and client relationships, not automatic salary increases.