Cosmetology at Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines

For a cosmetology program with modest tuition costs, Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines delivers results that hover around the state median but lag behind the top Iowa programs. With first-year earnings of $20,355, graduates earn slightly more than the state median and substantially more than the national average of $17,113. However, stronger programs in the state—like Aveda Institute and PCI Academy locations—see their graduates earning $24,000 to $27,000, suggesting there's meaningful variation in outcomes even within Iowa's cosmetology training landscape.

The $9,130 in typical debt is actually lower than the state average, and the 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically manage these loans on a cosmetologist's income. Earnings do grow 17% by year four, reaching $23,809, which helps with long-term financial stability. The program serves a significant population of Pell-eligible students (39%), making accessibility part of its mission.

The practical question: Is this worth $3,000-6,000 less in first-year earnings compared to top-ranked Iowa programs? If the tuition and schedule work better for your family, the debt level here won't crush you financially. But if you can access one of the higher-performing programs in Des Moines or elsewhere in Iowa without significantly higher costs, those extra earnings compound meaningfully over a career in the beauty industry.