Cosmetology at Northwood Technical College

Northwood Technical College's cosmetology program keeps debt remarkably low at $5,500—well below both the state median of $10,528 and national median of $9,862. However, graduates face a significant earnings tradeoff: first-year pay of $18,294 ranks in just the 25th percentile among Wisconsin cosmetology programs, falling $3,365 short of the state median and roughly $7,000 behind top-performing programs like Waukesha County Technical College.

The positive here is that graduates typically owe just three months of income, making this one of the most affordable cosmetology programs in Wisconsin. Earnings do grow modestly to $19,355 by year four, keeping pace with national benchmarks while staying above the $17,113 national median. For students who plan to stay in Rice Lake or similar rural markets where lower cost of living may offset the earnings gap, this combination of minimal debt and steady if modest income could work.

The concern is whether savings on tuition justify potentially earning $7,000 less annually than graduates from programs just a couple hours away. If your daughter plans to work in Madison or Milwaukee after graduation, where salon earnings and opportunities differ significantly from rural Wisconsin, she might find the initial debt savings don't compensate for years of lower earning potential. Run the numbers based on where she actually intends to build her career.