Cosmetology at Strand Institute of Beauty & Esthetics

The small sample size here warrants caution, but the pattern is troubling: Strand Institute graduates earn about $15,500 their first year out—roughly $900 below the Texas median for cosmetology programs and nearly $2,000 below the national figure. In a state with 151 cosmetology programs, this one ranks only in the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten Texas alternatives produce better outcomes.

The debt load of $9,399 isn't catastrophic, but context matters. Top cosmetology programs in Texas—schools like Paul Mitchell the School-Austin and Champion Beauty College—see their graduates earning $26,000+, nearly double what Strand Institute grads make. Even at Strand's relatively modest debt level, you're looking at graduates whose first-year earnings barely exceed $1,200 per month before taxes. That's minimum wage territory, making debt repayment challenging even with this moderate borrowing.

For families considering cosmetology training in Texas, the data suggests looking at programs that have demonstrated stronger graduate outcomes. The gap between what graduates here earn versus top state performers is simply too wide to ignore, especially when alternative programs exist throughout Texas with significantly better track records.