Cosmetology at Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick

Raphael's School of Beauty Culture produces cosmetology graduates earning about $15,300 their first year—roughly $2,000 below both the national and Ohio medians for this field. With $11,000 in debt, the 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but the earnings gap matters when you're starting at just above minimum wage. Looking at Ohio's cosmetology landscape, this program sits at the 40th percentile, meaning 60% of cosmetology programs in the state deliver better first-year outcomes. The top performers in Ohio—like Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus at nearly $24,000—demonstrate that location and program reputation can create a $8,000+ earnings difference in year one, which compounds significantly over a career.

The concerning element here is value relative to alternatives within driving distance. Over half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families where $11,000 in debt carries real weight. For a cosmetology certificate that takes months rather than years to complete, graduates should ideally see faster debt payback than this program delivers. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates confirms these aren't outlier results—this is the consistent outcome.

Before enrolling, compare tuition and job placement rates at Ohio's higher-performing cosmetology schools. Even a program at the state median would mean an extra $150/month in take-home pay, which matters enormously at this income level. If Raphael's offers significantly lower tuition or stronger local salon connections in the Brunswick area, those factors could change the equation, but the earnings data alone suggests looking elsewhere.