Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School-Farmington Hills

Paul Mitchell's Farmington Hills location produces cosmetology graduates who earn slightly above Michigan's median for the field—$17,067 versus $15,179 statewide—placing them in the 60th percentile among the state's 41 cosmetology programs. That's a meaningful difference in a field where earnings are notoriously tight. The $9,833 debt load is exactly at the state median and translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, which means graduates owe about 7 months of their first-year income.

The challenge here is less about this specific program and more about cosmetology economics generally. Even among Michigan's top-performing programs like Northern Michigan University ($21,628), first-year earnings hover around $20,000—not enough to make any substantial debt burden comfortable. Paul Mitchell-Farmington Hills sits squarely in the middle of the pack nationally (49th percentile) while performing somewhat better locally, which matters since most cosmetology careers are location-specific.

For parents considering this investment, the key question is whether their child is committed to building a cosmetology business over time, since these early earnings rarely tell the full story of income potential through booth rental, tips, or salon ownership. At this price point and performance level, the program won't create a debt crisis, but it won't deliver immediate financial independence either.