Cosmetology at Salon Success Academy-Redlands

Salon Success Academy-Redlands produces earnings that lag significantly behind both state and national benchmarks, with first-year graduates earning $14,308—about $3,000 less than the national median for cosmetology programs. While the program sits near the middle of California schools (40th percentile), that's cold comfort when California's own median for cosmetology earnings is already below the national average. The debt load of $7,177 is relatively manageable compared to many cosmetology programs, but it still represents half a year's earnings for recent graduates trying to establish themselves in a commission-based industry.

The 22% earnings growth to $17,452 by year four offers some hope, though graduates still earn substantially less than peers from top California programs like The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose, where first-year earnings exceed $24,000. With half of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on cosmetology as an affordable path to stable work. The low debt helps, but the earnings reality means graduates will likely need to supplement income or work longer hours to achieve financial stability.

For families considering this program, understand that you're looking at earnings that will make independent living difficult in Southern California's expensive housing market. The investment is modest, but the returns are equally modest. If cosmetology is the goal, compare carefully against community college programs or higher-performing academies that might justify slightly higher costs with meaningfully better earning potential.