Cosmetology at Kansas City Kansas Community College

Kansas City Kansas Community College turns out cosmetology graduates who earn considerably more than the national norm—$21,091 versus $17,113 nationally, placing them in the 85th percentile. That's roughly $4,000 more annually than the typical cosmetology graduate nationwide. Within Kansas, this program sits solidly in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, trailing only slightly behind programs at Washburn and a handful of specialized schools. The debt load of $8,235 is manageable, coming in below both state and national medians, which means graduates can realistically tackle their monthly payments even on entry-level salon wages.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 tells a practical story: students borrow less than half of what they'll earn in their first year. For a field where many programs saddle graduates with $10,000+ in loans for similar or lower earnings, this represents a genuine advantage. The 31% Pell grant rate suggests the school serves working-class students who need credentials that deliver immediate income, and this program appears designed to do exactly that.

If your child is set on cosmetology and staying in the Kansas City area, this is a cost-effective path that outperforms most national competitors without the debt burden. The earnings won't rival four-year degrees, but that's the field—not this particular program.