Cosmetology at Houston Training Schools-Gessner

The numbers here reveal a troubling pattern: graduates of this program earn roughly $3,600 less annually than the typical Texas cosmetology graduate, placing them in just the 25th percentile statewide. While the $7,500 in debt is manageable in absolute terms, it represents more than half a year's income when your first-year earnings are only $13,813. Compare that to top-performing Texas programs where graduates earn $26,000+ annually—nearly double what this school delivers—and the opportunity cost becomes clear.

The 18% earnings growth to $16,320 by year four offers modest improvement, but it still leaves graduates well below what they could earn immediately after completing stronger programs. With 93% of students receiving Pell grants, this school primarily serves families who can least afford a subpar return on their education investment. The robust sample size means these aren't anomalies—this is the actual earning potential the program has delivered.

For families considering cosmetology training in Houston, this program ranks near the bottom of Texas options. The same tuition dollars and training time invested at higher-performing schools in the state could yield nearly double the earning power, making this a particularly poor value proposition in a state with significantly better alternatives.