Cosmetology at The Beauty Institute

The Beauty Institute's cosmetology program produces earnings below both national and state levels, yet manages to keep debt relatively contained—a partial silver lining that doesn't fully offset the income reality. At $15,101 in the first year, graduates earn about $1,100 less than the Pennsylvania median and $2,000 below the national benchmark. This matters because competing Pennsylvania schools like Metro Beauty Academy and Penn Commercial consistently produce graduates earning $20,000+, a meaningful difference when you're working with these income levels.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $12,696, it sits slightly below the Pennsylvania median and well below the national 75th percentile. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84, graduates theoretically owe less than one year's salary. However, actually servicing that debt on $15,000 annually presents real challenges, even with modest growth to $16,382 by year four. The program serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (68%), suggesting many students enter with limited financial cushion.

For parents, the core question is whether this investment makes sense when other Pennsylvania schools produce 30-40% higher earnings with similar debt loads. If proximity to Stroudsburg matters or your child has specific reasons to attend this institution, understand they'll likely start their career earning considerably less than peers at stronger programs within the same state.