Cosmetology at North Central Texas College

The numbers here raise red flags that parents need to see clearly. At just under $11,000 in first-year earnings, graduates are earning about a third of what typical Texas cosmetology graduates make ($16,412). This isn't a close call—the program ranks in the 10th percentile statewide, meaning 90% of comparable Texas programs deliver better earnings outcomes. For context, the top cosmetology programs in Texas see graduates earning around $26,000, more than double what this program produces.

The debt load itself isn't enormous at $6,812, but when you're earning barely minimum wage, even modest debt becomes a burden. That 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face nearly eight months of their annual income in debt—a particularly challenging situation when you're trying to establish yourself in a field that often requires building a client base from scratch.

The honest assessment: with 150 other cosmetology programs in Texas alone, there's no compelling reason to choose one that consistently underperforms the state median by $5,500 annually. While the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual outcomes vary, the pattern is concerning enough that parents should look at higher-performing programs first. If your child is set on cosmetology, compare this carefully against schools where graduates actually earn enough to comfortably service their debt and build toward financial independence.