Cosmetology at Pro Way Hair School

Pro Way's cosmetology program costs students $13,753 in debt to reach earnings of just over $15,000—barely minimum wage in most markets. What's more troubling: those earnings don't grow. Four years out, graduates actually earn slightly less than they did in year one, a pattern that suggests limited career mobility or high turnover in the field. While the debt load is lower than many cosmetology programs nationally (14th percentile), the earnings lag behind: this program ranks in just the 40th percentile among Georgia cosmetology schools and 27th percentile nationally.

The gap between Pro Way and stronger Georgia alternatives is stark. Graduates from Lanier Technical College earn $22,686—over 50% more than Pro Way graduates—while programs at Atlanta School of Massage and South Georgia Technical College also deliver substantially better outcomes. Even Georgia's statewide median of $16,832 sits nearly $2,000 above Pro Way's results. For a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (79%), these lower earnings make debt repayment significantly harder.

The math here is difficult to justify. At 91% debt-to-earnings, graduates face nearly a year's salary in loans for a credential that yields flat income growth and below-average starting pay. Georgia families have at least 20 programs with better track records—exploring those alternatives should be priority one.