Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School-Merrillville

Paul Mitchell the School-Merrillville delivers exactly what most families should expect from a cosmetology program—modest debt paired with entry-level earnings that require careful financial planning. At nearly $20,000 in first-year earnings, graduates here actually outperform three-quarters of cosmetology programs nationally, though they're sitting in the middle of the pack among Indiana's 28 cosmetology schools. The $9,833 in debt is manageable compared to some competitors in the state, where median debt runs closer to $11,750.

The real question is whether the math works for your family. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 means graduates owe about half their first-year income—tight but not crushing if they're committed to the field. However, cosmetology careers often start slow, and first-year earnings in this range require living at home or having very low expenses while building a client base. The fact that 38% of students receive Pell grants suggests many families here are already stretching financially.

If your child is passionate about hair and beauty and willing to hustle through lean early years, this program won't saddle them with the crushing debt seen at some beauty schools. But compare it seriously against the top performers in Indiana—schools like Aveda Fredric's Institute produce graduates earning $24,000, a meaningful difference when you're living paycheck to paycheck.