Cosmetology at Gould's Academy

Gould's Academy graduates earn more than 75% of cosmetology certificate holders nationwide, with first-year earnings of $20,194—well above both the national median of $17,113 and Tennessee's median of $17,506. Among Tennessee's 47 cosmetology programs, this lands in the 60th percentile, meaning graduates here do better than most in-state competitors. The debt load of $10,149 translates to a manageable 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can expect to earn about twice their debt in their first year—a reasonable position for a short-term certificate program.

The challenge is what happens next: earnings barely budge over four years, growing just 2% to $20,633. This plateau is common in cosmetology, where income depends more on building a client base and chair rental arrangements than on tenure or credentials. Still, these starting wages beat four of the top five Tennessee programs, suggesting Gould's prepares students well for immediate employment. With 58% of students receiving Pell grants, the school serves a population that needs practical, quick returns on education investment.

For parents evaluating this path, Gould's offers a solid entry point into cosmetology with below-average debt and above-average starting pay. Just understand that earnings growth will depend on your child's entrepreneurial skills and client-building ability rather than the credential itself. The real value here is getting trained efficiently and starting work without crushing debt.