Cosmetology at Olympian Academy of Cosmetology

Olympian Academy of Cosmetology produces earnings that fall short of both national and New Mexico standards for cosmetology programs. Graduates earn $16,558 in their first year—below the national median of $17,113 and trailing the state median of $16,854. Among New Mexico's 16 cosmetology programs, this ranks in just the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten comparable programs in the state deliver better outcomes.

The debt picture offers some relief, with graduates owing a median $13,000 compared to the national average of $9,862. While higher than typical, this creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79, meaning graduates owe less than their first year's income. Earnings do grow to $19,209 by the fourth year—a solid 16% increase that brings graduates closer to competitive levels.

For families considering this investment, the numbers suggest Olympian Academy delivers below-average results in a state where cosmetology programs generally underperform nationally. With nearly 70% of students receiving Pell grants, the school clearly serves a population that needs financial aid, but stronger-performing options like Aveda Institute ($18,842 first-year earnings) exist in New Mexico. The relatively low debt keeps this from being a financial disaster, but parents should expect their graduate to earn less than peers from better-performing programs.