Cosmetology at Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education

Employment Solutions' cosmetology program stands out for all the wrong reasons: graduates earn just $13,117 their first year while carrying $15,413 in debt—meaning they owe more than they'll make initially. Even as earnings climb to $17,543 by year four, that's a concerning trajectory when competing programs in Lexington (Paul Mitchell earns $18,950) and Bowling Green (PJ's College reaches $21,439) deliver stronger results from day one.

The debt load is particularly problematic. At the 5th percentile nationally, this program saddles students with significantly more debt than 95% of cosmetology programs nationwide, despite producing earnings that fall in just the 15th percentile. While the program sits at Kentucky's median for debt, it underperforms the state median for earnings. That's a troubling combination when the typical cosmetology graduate enters a profession with modest income potential.

For families considering this program, the math doesn't work. With 67% of students receiving Pell grants, many attendees can least afford to take on above-average debt for below-average outcomes. Your child would start their career underwater financially, and even the 34% earnings growth over four years won't close that gap compared to stronger alternatives in the state. Look elsewhere—Kentucky has cosmetology programs that cost less and earn more.