Cosmetology at The Academy of Hair Design LLC

The Academy of Hair Design delivers solidly middle-of-the-pack results for Oklahoma cosmetology students. At $17,958 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $1,800 more than the typical Oklahoma cosmetology graduate and slightly above the national median. Within Oklahoma's 42 cosmetology programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile—respectable, though schools like Tulsa Technology Center achieve 50% higher earnings with the same credential.

The real advantage here is debt management. At $16,500, graduates borrow significantly more than the state median ($10,272), yet the program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden—meaning 95% of cosmetology programs nationwide leave students with less debt. The near-equal debt-to-earnings ratio (0.92) means graduates will spend roughly their entire first year's salary paying off loans, which is a tough financial start even in a field where passion often matters more than immediate income. With 40% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already stretched financially.

For parents, the central question is whether this premium debt load is justified by the slightly-above-average Oklahoma earnings. The Academy produces working cosmetologists, but the financial picture suggests shopping around—particularly at programs that achieve similar earnings with half the debt burden.