Cosmetology at Southeastern Esthetics Institute

Southeastern Esthetics Institute graduates enter the workforce earning $21,547—substantially above the national cosmetology median of $17,113 and ranking in the 89th percentile nationwide. That's impressive performance in a field where many programs struggle to deliver strong returns. Within South Carolina, this program sits comfortably in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, but notably outperforms the state median of $18,956. The $7,029 in typical debt is remarkably manageable, coming in well below both the national ($9,862) and state ($11,069) medians for cosmetology programs.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 means graduates owe roughly four months' salary—one of the cleaner financial pictures you'll find in vocational training. With nearly half of students receiving Pell grants, the school clearly serves a population that needs affordable pathways to employment, and the low debt burden suggests it's delivering on that promise. The robust sample size gives these numbers real credibility.

For parents evaluating cosmetology programs in South Carolina, this represents a solid choice. Your child would graduate with less debt than peers at most competing schools while earning slightly above the state average. It's not the flashiest outcome in the field, but it's a fundamentally sound investment that leads to employment without crushing debt.