Cosmetology at Stage One-The Hair School

Stage One graduates earn about $3,700 more per year than the typical Louisiana cosmetology graduate—a meaningful difference in a field where most programs struggle to generate strong returns. The school ranks in the 60th percentile statewide for earnings while keeping debt roughly $3,000 below the state median. That combination matters when you're looking at first-year earnings under $18,000. The debt load is manageable at just over half of first-year income, and earnings do grow 17% by year four, reaching over $20,000.

The numbers reflect a program serving a predominantly lower-income student population (74% receive Pell grants) and preparing them for a competitive local market. While the top Louisiana cosmetology programs push closer to $20,000 in first-year earnings, Stage One lands solidly in the middle of the state's 43 cosmetology schools. The key advantage here is cost control—graduates aren't buried under the debt burden common at many beauty schools.

For a Louisiana family considering cosmetology training, this represents a relatively safe bet: below-average debt with above-average local earnings. The income ceiling remains low regardless of school choice in this field, but Stage One at least positions graduates better than most state alternatives without excessive borrowing.