Cosmetology at Sheridan Technical College

Sheridan Technical College's cosmetology program produces earnings that fall short of most Florida alternatives, with graduates earning just $15,338 in their first year—about $1,400 less than the state median and notably below what similar Florida programs deliver. More concerning, earnings actually decline to $14,489 by year four, suggesting graduates struggle to build their client base or advance beyond entry-level salon positions. When Florida offers cosmetology programs where graduates earn $23,000-29,000 annually at nearby schools like Palm Beach State and Florida State College at Jacksonville, this performance is particularly disappointing.

The $9,105 in debt is roughly average for Florida cosmetology programs, but it becomes problematic given the weak earnings. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, graduates will need more than seven months of gross income just to cover their loans—feasible but tight on a cosmetology salary. The 40th percentile ranking among Florida programs confirms this is below-average performance in a state with many options.

For parents, the question is simple: why choose a program in the bottom half of Florida cosmetology schools? Unless geographic convenience is paramount, your child would likely see better returns from one of the stronger programs elsewhere in the state, where the same debt load would be offset by substantially higher earning potential.