Cosmetology at Designer Barber & Stylist School

Designer Barber & Stylist School's cosmetology certificate costs nearly as much as graduates earn in their first year—a worrying sign for a field where most programs nationally carry less than $10,000 in debt. While this program ranks in the 60th percentile among Arkansas cosmetology schools for earnings, that comparison misses the bigger problem: graduates here are borrowing 67% more than the state median while earning only slightly above it.

The numbers tell a difficult story. First-year earnings of $17,460 barely exceed the state median of $14,450, but graduates carry $16,500 in debt—among the highest in the state. By year four, earnings actually decline to $16,424, suggesting the expected career progression in cosmetology isn't materializing for these graduates. Meanwhile, programs like Arkansas Beauty School-Little Rock produce graduates earning $21,000+ with comparable or lower debt burdens.

For parents considering this investment, the math is straightforward: it would take most of a graduate's first year of earnings just to pay off the principal on their student loans. Nearly half the students here receive Pell grants, indicating many come from families where this debt load could be particularly burdensome. Arkansas has several cosmetology programs offering better earnings potential with lower debt, making Designer Barber & Stylist School a harder case to justify unless location or scheduling constraints leave no alternatives.