Cosmetology at Summit Salon Academy

Summit Salon Academy graduates start around $21,500 annually—landing in the 88th percentile nationally for cosmetology programs but falling mid-pack within Indiana at the 60th percentile. For context, that's roughly $3,000 less than graduates from Paul Mitchell's Indianapolis campus earn, though still $3,000 above the state median. The nearly $12,000 in typical debt sits right at Indiana's average for cosmetology programs, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54.

What makes this tricky is the minimal earnings growth over the first four years—just 3%, or about $500 total. In cosmetology, where building a client base and chair rental arrangements can significantly boost income, this flat trajectory suggests graduates may face challenges gaining traction in Anderson's market. Nearly half the students receive Pell grants, indicating this serves a population where even modest debt matters.

The verdict: Summit delivers solid training that places graduates well above national standards, but the combination of middle-tier Indiana earnings and stagnant income growth means your child would need to be strategic about building clientele quickly. If they can secure employment at a busy salon or eventually work toward booth rental, the initial debt becomes quite manageable. Just know they're starting behind graduates from the top Indianapolis programs, which might be worth the commute if location flexibility exists.