Cosmetology at Montgomery Beauty School

Montgomery Beauty School's cosmetology program produces graduates earning nearly $3,000 more than the typical Maryland cosmetology graduate and $1,500 above the national median. While the school ranks in the 60th percentile statewide—behind the Paul Mitchell schools and a few others—it's substantially ahead of the state median of $16,429. With debt under $13,000 and a relatively low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69, graduates face manageable loans compared to their immediate earning power.

The modest 6% earnings growth from year one to year four is typical for cosmetology, where income depends heavily on building a client base and working full-time hours. The $19,815 four-year mark still keeps graduates competitive with the stronger programs in Maryland. Worth noting: over half of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting the school serves students who might not have many alternatives, and for them, these outcomes represent genuine economic mobility.

For parents worried about beauty school debt, this program sits in a reasonable middle ground—not the highest-earning option in Maryland, but producing better-than-average results with below-average debt. If your child is committed to cosmetology and this school is conveniently located, the combination of manageable debt and above-average earnings makes it a defensible choice among Maryland's 17 cosmetology programs.