Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School-Federal Way

Paul Mitchell Federal Way graduates earn $23,084 in their first year—placing them in the 95th percentile nationally for cosmetology programs and well above the national median of $17,113. That's an exceptional outcome by industry standards. However, context matters: while this outperforms most programs nationwide, it sits at the 60th percentile among Washington's 24 cosmetology schools, where the state median is already higher at $21,785. Within Washington, graduates trail those from schools like Toni & Guy Hairdressing in Shoreline ($25,497) and Paul Mitchell Spokane ($24,554).

The debt picture is reasonable at $10,555—roughly average both nationally and within Washington—resulting in a manageable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio. More encouraging is the 29% earnings growth by year four, reaching nearly $30,000, which suggests graduates are building viable careers rather than hitting immediate ceilings. With 44% of students receiving Pell grants, the school serves a significant population of financially vulnerable students, and these outcomes show they're not being left with unmanageable debt.

For families considering cosmetology training in Washington, this program delivers solid results that justify the investment, particularly compared to the broader national landscape. Just know that if proximity isn't a factor, a few other Washington schools show slightly stronger first-year earnings that might accelerate your child's path to financial independence.