Cosmetology at Huntington School of Beauty Culture

At just under $12,000 in first-year earnings, Huntington School of Beauty Culture's cosmetology program ranks in the bottom 5% nationally and trails the West Virginia median by nearly $4,000. Graduates here earn roughly half what peers at nearby Clarksburg Beauty Academy make ($21,049), and even fall below the state's bottom-ranked programs. While the debt load is modest at $6,906—about $2,000 less than the state average—that's little consolation when earnings are this low.

The numbers suggest something isn't working in this program's job placement or curriculum. Even accounting for cosmetology's typically modest starting wages, these earnings are concerning. A graduate would need their entire first year's income just to cover half the debt burden, and that's before rent, food, or other expenses. The 25th percentile state ranking means three-quarters of West Virginia's cosmetology programs deliver better outcomes.

For families considering this program, the comparison to other in-state options is stark. Your child could attend a program an hour north in Clarksburg and potentially earn 75% more in their first year. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to stay local in Huntington, this program appears to underperform too significantly to justify the investment, even with relatively low debt.