Cosmetology at Phagans Grants Pass College of Beauty

Starting a cosmetology career through Phagans Grants Pass means earning about $17,200 in your first year—roughly the national average but notably below Oregon's typical outcome of $18,400. More concerning, this places the program in just the 40th percentile among Oregon's 18 cosmetology schools, and there are clear alternatives in-state that deliver significantly better results. Summit Salon Academy in Portland, for instance, helps graduates earn $27,100, nearly $10,000 more annually.

The debt load of $10,438 is manageable and close to both state and national norms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. However, that ratio matters less when the earnings themselves are relatively weak for your state. With 64% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on this credential to provide economic mobility—yet graduates are starting out barely above minimum wage in many markets.

If your student is committed to cosmetology and staying in Oregon, push them to seriously consider programs in Portland, particularly Summit or Aveda Institute, which demonstrate substantially higher earning potential. The modest difference in debt between schools pales next to the gap in first-year earnings. Location matters in this field, but so does program quality—and this data suggests Phagans Grants Pass underperforms compared to what's available elsewhere in the state.