Cosmetology at Lil Lou's Beauty and Barber College-Hammond

The numbers here are stark: graduates from this Hammond program earn just $11,397 in their first year—40% less than the typical Indiana cosmetology graduate and a third less than the national median. That puts this program in the bottom 10% statewide and the bottom 5% nationally. Meanwhile, the $16,500 in median debt exceeds what graduates at most other Indiana cosmetology schools take on, creating a debt burden 1.5 times first-year earnings.

The comparison to nearby alternatives is particularly telling. Paul Mitchell the School in Merrillville, just minutes away, produces graduates earning $19,685—nearly double what Lil Lou's graduates make. Even the state median of $18,592 represents a significant earnings advantage. Four years out, earnings at Lil Lou's barely budge to $11,771, suggesting graduates struggle to build momentum in their careers.

For families considering cosmetology training in the Hammond area, this program represents one of the weakest investments among Indiana's 28 options. The combination of below-market earnings and above-market debt creates a difficult financial starting point, especially concerning given that 88% of students here receive Pell grants. Nearby alternatives offer substantially better outcomes for similar or lower debt loads.