Cosmetology at Phagans School of Hair Design

With 18 cosmetology programs in Oregon to choose from, Phagans School of Hair Design ranks in the bottom half at 40th percentile for earnings. At $18,244 four years out, graduates here earn about $9,000 less annually than those from Summit Salon Academy-Portland and trail even the Oregon median by roughly $150. The $9,500 debt load is manageable in absolute terms, but when you're earning $16,034 in your first year, that represents more than half a year's income before taxes.

The 14% earnings growth between year one and year four is modest but expected in cosmetology, where building a client base takes time. What's more concerning is that even after four years of building that base, graduates are earning less than first-year graduates from the top Oregon programs. This pattern suggests the school's training or network may not position students for higher-earning opportunities as effectively as competitors.

For a family considering cosmetology training in Oregon, this program works if location is a primary constraint and cost minimization matters most. But if you can access Portland-area programs like Summit or Aveda, the earnings premium of $3,000-9,000 annually makes a compelling case—especially since their debt loads aren't dramatically higher. The ROI calculation here is straightforward: spending slightly more upfront could mean substantially higher lifetime earnings in a profession where every client relationship counts.