Cosmetology at The Professional Hair Design Academy

The Professional Hair Design Academy's cosmetology program produces graduates earning $21,659 in their first year—$4,500 above the national median and tied for Wisconsin's median. While this ranks in the 89th percentile nationally, it's only at the 60th percentile among Wisconsin cosmetology schools, meaning roughly half of the state's programs deliver better outcomes. The top Wisconsin programs generate earnings 15-25% higher, suggesting location and salon connections matter significantly in this field.

The $12,000 median debt sits slightly above both national and state averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55. That's manageable compared to many certificate programs, but cosmetology earnings don't typically grow dramatically over time, so that initial ratio matters. With 40% of students receiving Pell grants, many attendees are financing their training and need to work full-time immediately upon graduation to make the numbers work.

The caveat here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset. In a field where individual salon placement can swing outcomes by thousands of dollars, these numbers might not reflect the typical experience. For families comparing Wisconsin cosmetology schools, this program performs solidly but not exceptionally. Unless there are specific reasons to choose Eau Claire (location, schedule flexibility, teaching style), the data suggests looking at programs like Waukesha County Technical College or the Madison-area schools that place graduates into higher-earning positions.