Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City

At $18,561 starting, this program falls short of South Dakota's cosmetology median of $21,552—placing it third among the state's four schools. That gap matters because while Paul Mitchell charges slightly less than the state average in debt ($11,321 versus $11,660), graduates still need to earn enough to make those loan payments manageable. The Salon Professional Academy graduates earn 30% more right out of school while carrying similar debt loads, making it the stronger in-state option if your child can get in.

The positive angle is that earnings do grow to $20,373 by year four, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 is relatively manageable for a cosmetology program. Nationally, this school performs better than average—63rd percentile—so it's not struggling compared to beauty schools across the country. With 64% of students receiving Pell grants, the school clearly serves lower-income students who may have fewer alternatives.

The practical question is whether your child can build a clientele in Rapid City that justifies the investment. If they're considering staying local after graduation, explore whether networking opportunities or salon partnerships differ between Paul Mitchell and The Salon Professional Academy. The $5,500 earnings gap between these schools compounds significantly over a career, even if Paul Mitchell's brand name seems appealing initially.