Cosmetology at Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy

Dermal Science International graduates earn $22,763 in their first year—significantly above the national median of $17,113 for cosmetology programs and ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. However, within Virginia's competitive beauty education market, this places them at the 60th percentile, trailing top programs like The Esthetic Institute ($29,301) and Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics ($27,490). The program carries below-average debt at $8,517 compared to Virginia's median of $13,433, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 that graduates can manage within months of working.

The concerning trend is the earnings decline: graduates see income drop to $21,094 by year four, a 7% decrease that's unusual in most fields. This could reflect industry dynamics in the beauty sector—perhaps the initial bump from new clients levels off, or competition intensifies. Still, even with this decline, graduates maintain earnings above both national and state medians for cosmetology programs.

For parents evaluating this investment, the math works: relatively low debt combined with solid starting earnings makes this manageable, even if income doesn't grow. Your child won't face crushing debt, and they'll earn more than most cosmetology graduates nationwide. Just understand that building a thriving beauty business or climbing to higher earnings (like graduates from Virginia's top-tier programs achieve) will require additional hustle beyond the certificate itself.