Cosmetology at Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock

With 151 cosmetology programs in Texas, this Lubbock school lands squarely in the middle tier—60th percentile statewide. Graduates earn around $17,800 four years out, which beats the Texas median by roughly $1,400 but falls far short of top-performing programs where graduates earn $26,000+. The $8,250 in typical debt is slightly below the state median, and with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, most graduates should be able to manage repayment on a cosmetologist's income, though it won't be comfortable in those first few years.

The concerning part is what happens after graduation: earnings barely budge between year one and year four, growing just 3%. This suggests graduates quickly hit their income ceiling in the local Lubbock market. For students planning to stay in West Texas long-term, this program offers predictable, if modest, outcomes. However, parents should understand that the top Texas cosmetology programs deliver 50% higher earnings—the gap likely reflects both program quality and market access in larger cities.

The math works if your child keeps debt at this level and has realistic expectations about cosmetology income. Just recognize this is a career with limited upward mobility, and Lubbock's job market appears less lucrative than Austin, Houston, or Dallas.