Cosmetology at Taylor Andrews Academy-St George

Taylor Andrews Academy-St George charges less than the typical cosmetology program, but graduates earn roughly $2,500 less annually than the state median—landing in the 40th percentile among Utah's 32 cosmetology schools. At $18,254 in first-year earnings, you're looking at close to minimum wage work, and the trajectory doesn't improve. Earnings actually slip slightly by year four, which is unusual even in fields where income typically plateaus early.

The manageable debt load ($8,358) keeps this from being a financial disaster—you'd need about five months of gross income to pay it off at that ratio. Nationally, the program performs decently (60th percentile), but that's cold comfort when Utah's top cosmetology programs produce graduates earning $25,000-27,000 annually. The gap between this school and the state's leaders isn't about prestige; it's about $7,000-9,000 in annual income that compounds over a career.

For a family considering this program, the question is whether the lower debt justifies substantially lower earning potential. If your child is committed to cosmetology in southern Utah, this isn't the worst option, but they should know they're likely trading about $10,000 per year compared to stronger programs in the state. That's a meaningful difference when building a client base or covering rent in St. George.