Cosmetology at PCI Academy-Plymouth

PCI Academy's cosmetology program significantly outperforms the national landscape—graduates earn 41% more than the typical cosmetology program nationally, placing them in the 95th percentile. But Minnesota parents should understand that this strong national showing doesn't translate to a state-level advantage. At $24,178 in first-year earnings, graduates earn slightly below Minnesota's median of $24,204 for cosmetology programs, landing in the 40th percentile statewide. Several in-state alternatives, including Saint Paul College ($32,987) and Model College of Hair Design ($25,814), deliver meaningfully higher earnings for similar debt levels.

The program's financial structure is reasonable: $10,570 in debt against first-year earnings creates a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio, and the 22% earnings growth to $29,405 by year four shows steady income progression. This trajectory suggests graduates are building clientele and skills over time. With a robust sample size of 100+ graduates and 34% receiving Pell grants, these figures reliably reflect typical outcomes.

For Minnesota families, this presents a practical entry point into cosmetology—you'll graduate with manageable debt and earnings that beat most national programs. However, if maximizing first-year income matters for your financial situation, exploring the top-performing Minnesota programs could yield $8,000+ more annually right out of the gate, which compounds significantly when building a career in this field.