Cosmetology at Glen Dow Academy of Hair Design

Glen Dow Academy graduates earn nearly $2,200 above the national median for cosmetology programs, but they're trailing the Washington state median by about $2,000—landing in the 40th percentile statewide. That gap matters more than you might think: other Washington schools like Paul Mitchell-Spokane and Toni & Guy-Shoreline are placing graduates into jobs paying $24,500-$25,500 annually, suggesting stronger salon connections or better-positioned markets within the state. Your daughter would be earning 20-25% less here than at Washington's top programs.

The debt load of $12,830 is manageable relative to first-year earnings (0.67 ratio), but it's still about $2,700 above what students at other Washington cosmetology programs typically borrow. With earnings essentially flat between years one and four—just a $500 increase over that span—there's no financial momentum building. The 37% Pell grant population suggests many students here are already working with limited resources, making that extra debt more consequential.

If your child is committed to staying in Spokane, Glen Dow offers training that beats the national baseline. But if relocation to Seattle or Everett is feasible, programs there deliver 20% higher earnings for similar training time. For a family watching every dollar, that difference compounds quickly—it's roughly $5,000 more annually that could go toward rent, savings, or paying down loans faster.