Cosmetology at Navarro College

Navarro College's cosmetology program significantly outperforms most competitors in Texas, with graduates earning $21,684 four years out—placing it in the 80th percentile statewide. That's $5,200 more than the typical Texas cosmetology graduate earns, though still about $5,000 behind the state's top-performing programs. The $9,500 in median debt sits right at national norms, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 that graduates typically repay within their first two years of work.

The earnings trajectory here is particularly noteworthy: rather than seeing the income declines common in cosmetology programs, Navarro graduates maintain steady earnings with modest 4% growth. This stability matters in an industry where many programs show graduates losing ground financially after their first year. Texas has 151 cosmetology programs to choose from, and this one consistently delivers better financial outcomes than 80% of them.

The main limitation is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, so individual circumstances could skew these numbers. That said, for families looking at cosmetology training in Texas, Navarro offers above-average earning potential at average debt levels, which is a reasonable value proposition. Students serious about the field should still visit the campus and talk to current students about job placement support, but the financial fundamentals here are solid.