Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School-Memphis

Paul Mitchell Memphis graduates start earning slightly below Tennessee's median for cosmetology programs—$17,239 versus the state's $17,506—and rank in just the 40th percentile statewide. That matters because Tennessee has several schools producing notably stronger outcomes: graduates from The Salon Professional Academy-Nashville earn $25,878, while Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro hits $22,176. Even compared nationally, this program sits right at the median, not above it.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $14,557, it's higher than both state and national medians (around $10,000), but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84 means graduates owe less than one year's income—manageable in the cosmetology field where keeping debt low is crucial. The 27% earnings growth to $21,824 by year four shows graduates are building their businesses or advancing, though that's still thousands below what top Tennessee programs achieve from the start.

For families paying close to the national average in debt to land in the bottom half of Tennessee's cosmetology market, this is worth questioning. With nearly five dozen alternatives in-state and several delivering 20-40% higher earnings immediately, Paul Mitchell Memphis isn't the value leader here. If location flexibility exists, compare closely with programs like TCAT-Murfreesboro that combine lower debt with stronger earning potential.