Cosmetology at Formations Institute

Formations Institute's cosmetology program starts graduates at just $11,050 annually—less than half what graduates earn at Tulsa Technology Center and landing in the bottom 10% statewide. Even four years out, when earnings reach $15,681, graduates still trail the Oklahoma median of $16,174. With $9,500 in debt, you're looking at a debt burden equal to 86% of first-year income, meaning your child would need most of a year's earnings just to clear their educational debt.

The 42% earnings growth sounds encouraging until you realize it's climbing from an exceptionally low base. At $15,681 four years post-graduation, graduates are still earning significantly less than peers from comparable Oklahoma programs, who typically start near $16,000-$18,000. The program serves many low-income students (60% receive Pell grants), but that doesn't change the economic reality: nearby alternatives consistently deliver better outcomes for similar or lower debt loads.

For a cosmetology certificate, where starting wages matter enormously to managing debt and building a client base, this program's sub-$12,000 first-year earnings create real financial pressure. Other Oklahoma schools demonstrate it's possible to do substantially better, even in the same market.