Cosmetology at Milan Institute of Cosmetology-San Antonio Military

This program delivers below-average earnings outcomes that should give parents serious pause about the return on investment. Graduates earn just $14,943 in their first year and $16,646 four years out—well below both the national median of $17,113 and Texas median of $16,412 for cosmetology programs. At the 25th percentile nationally and 40th percentile within Texas, this program ranks in the bottom tier of performance.

The financial picture is concerning when viewed alongside debt levels. While the $7,917 median debt is lower than typical cosmetology programs nationally, it still represents over half a year's earnings (0.53 ratio). More troubling is that this program ranks in the 79th percentile for debt nationally—meaning most comparable programs saddle students with less debt while delivering better earnings outcomes. The 11% earnings growth from year one to four is modest and doesn't significantly improve the overall value proposition.

The gap between this program and Texas's top performers is stark—leading programs like Paul Mitchell-Austin produce graduates earning $26,824, nearly double what students here can expect. For a family considering this investment, the data suggests looking elsewhere. Texas has 151 cosmetology programs, and this one underperforms both state and national benchmarks while charging relatively high fees for the modest outcomes delivered.