Cosmetology at Salon Professional Academy-Elevate Salon Institute

At $18,275 in first-year earnings, this Miami Beach cosmetology program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—performing at the 60th percentile both nationally and among Florida's 127 cosmetology programs. What's concerning is the trajectory: rather than building their earning power, graduates actually see income decline to $16,956 by year four. That's a 7% drop at a time when most careers should be gaining momentum. The debt load of $9,250 is reasonable relative to starting pay, but when earnings shrink instead of grow, that initial ratio of 0.51 becomes less reassuring over time.

The real eye-opener is looking at what's possible elsewhere in Florida. The top programs in the state—mostly community and technical colleges—produce graduates earning $22,000 to nearly $30,000 annually. These aren't outliers; they're public institutions with similar training but dramatically different outcomes. If your child is set on cosmetology, Florida State College at Jacksonville graduates earn 62% more than this program's alumni just one year out.

For a $9,250 investment, you're getting middle-of-the-road results in a state with significantly stronger options. Unless Miami Beach's specific location offers unique networking or employment advantages that justify accepting lower earnings, the numbers suggest looking at those higher-performing Florida schools first.