Cosmetology at Laurel Business Institute

Laurel Business Institute's cosmetology program lands in the bottom half nationally, but the bigger concern is the earnings trajectory: graduates see their income drop from $15,447 to $14,296 between years one and four. While this decline isn't unusual in cosmetology—where building a client base takes time and many stylists work part-time—it's still worth noting that Pennsylvania's median for this field is $16,236, suggesting stronger programs exist within the state.

The $12,000 debt load is slightly below Pennsylvania's average for cosmetology programs, though it still represents nearly 10 months of first-year earnings. For context, top Pennsylvania programs like Metro Beauty Academy and Penn Commercial Business/Technical School produce graduates earning $20,000-21,000—about 40% more than Laurel's typical graduate. With 60 cosmetology programs across Pennsylvania, families have plenty of options to consider.

Here's the practical reality: at under $15,000 annually four years out, most graduates will need to supplement this income or work significantly beyond typical full-time hours to achieve financial independence. If your child is committed to cosmetology in Pennsylvania, the data suggests looking at programs where graduates consistently earn above the state median of $16,236, ideally with debt loads that don't exceed 8-10 months of expected income.