Cosmetology at International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences

This Los Angeles cosmetology program produces graduates earning roughly $11,000 a year after completion—less than minimum wage for full-time work in California. That places it in the bottom 5% of cosmetology programs nationally and the bottom quarter even within California, where median cosmetology earnings reach $14,600. For perspective, graduates from top California programs like The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose and San Jose City College earn over $23,000, more than double what this program delivers.

The debt load of $9,624 isn't catastrophic in absolute terms, but when your first-year earnings barely cover the cost of renting a room in Los Angeles, that 0.87 debt-to-earnings ratio becomes a serious problem. Even four years out, graduates earn just $12,333—barely 15% above poverty level for a single person. At these income levels, loan repayment competes directly with basic necessities, and many graduates likely struggle to establish financial independence.

With 51% of students receiving Pell grants, this program primarily serves lower-income students who can least afford a credential that leaves them earning below subsistence wages. While cosmetology can offer a viable career path, this particular program significantly underperforms both state and national standards. Parents should know their child would have substantially better earnings prospects at numerous other California cosmetology schools, many of which charge similar tuition but deliver far stronger outcomes.