Cosmetology at No Grease Barber School

At first-year earnings of just $11,572, No Grease Barber School's cosmetology program produces outcomes among the worst in North Carolina—ranking in only the 10th percentile statewide. This is particularly troubling given that the state's community colleges routinely deliver earnings twice as high: Gaston College graduates earn $27,008, while even the median NC program hits $17,193. Your child would be entering a field where they're already earning below poverty wages, then facing $13,000 in debt that exceeds their annual income.

The comparison to nearby alternatives makes this especially difficult to justify. Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, less than three hours away, produces graduates earning $23,286—more than double what No Grease students make. Even accounting for the 100% Pell Grant population this school serves, the earnings gap is too severe to overlook. Community colleges across North Carolina consistently demonstrate that cosmetology programs can provide viable career entry points without leaving students this financially vulnerable.

The fundamental math doesn't work here: earning less than $1,000 per month before taxes while carrying $13,000 in debt means years of financial struggle ahead. If your child is committed to cosmetology in the Charlotte area, exploring Central Piedmont Community College or other public options would provide the same credential with dramatically better earning potential and typically lower costs.