Cosmetology at Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Minnesota State Community and Technical College's cosmetology program earns $24,367 for graduates one year out—42% above the national median and roughly on par with Minnesota's state average. While that 95th percentile national ranking sounds impressive, the more revealing comparison is within Minnesota itself: this program sits at the 60th percentile among 17 state programs, meaning several Minnesota schools place graduates in higher-earning positions. Saint Paul College, for instance, reports earnings 35% higher at nearly $33,000.

The debt load of $10,169 is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 that most graduates should be able to handle within a few years. That said, cosmetology is fundamentally a moderate-earning field—even top performers in Minnesota barely crack $33,000 in their first year. Success in this industry depends heavily on building a client base, which takes time regardless of where you train.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. For Minnesota families, this program offers solid training at a reasonable price, though it won't dramatically outperform other in-state options. If your child is committed to cosmetology, this is a viable path—just understand the earnings ceiling inherent to the field and factor in location, since building clientele often depends on staying where you train.