Cosmetology at Salon Success Academy-Corona

Salon Success Academy's cosmetology program falls short of what graduates need to justify even its modest debt load. With first-year earnings of $14,308, graduates earn less than minimum wage in California, where full-time work at $15/hour would yield $31,200 annually. The $7,177 in debt—though lower than the national median—still represents half a year's earnings. More concerning, this program ranks in just the 22nd percentile nationally and 40th percentile among California's 130 cosmetology schools, meaning roughly 60% of similar programs in-state deliver better outcomes.

The earnings trajectory does improve by 22% over four years to $17,452, but that's still roughly $7,000 below what graduates at top California programs like The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose earn right away. Given that nearly half of students here receive Pell grants, many come from families least able to absorb sluggish early career earnings. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates makes these numbers reliable, not anomalies.

For parents, the math is straightforward: their child could attend schools in the same state producing substantially better outcomes for similar or lower debt. Before committing here, compare against programs like San Jose City College or MTI College, which place graduates on firmer financial footing from day one.