Cosmetology at Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology

Lawrence & Company's cosmetology program leaves graduates earning just $12,650 in their first year—about $2,000 below California's median for similar programs and roughly $4,500 under the national average. While it ranks at the 40th percentile within California, that position provides little comfort when graduates are earning barely above minimum wage and watching their income slip further over time.

The numbers tell a difficult story: by year four, median earnings actually drop to $12,107, suggesting graduates struggle to build their client base or advance in the field. The $8,545 in student debt is slightly below state norms, but with such limited earning power, the 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face nearly eight months of gross income just to repay their loans. Compare this to top California programs where graduates earn nearly double these figures, demonstrating that location and training quality matter enormously in cosmetology.

For parents, this is a clear situation where alternative paths deserve serious consideration. California has 130 cosmetology programs, including several community colleges and trade schools producing significantly better outcomes. Unless your child has a specific connection to this institution or its instructors, investing $8,500 for training that leads to $12,000 annual earnings doesn't make financial sense when stronger programs are available at similar or lower cost.