Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha

The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha charges significantly more than most cosmetology programs while delivering earnings that, though strong nationally, land squarely in the middle of the Wisconsin pack. At $13,810 in debt—about $3,300 above Wisconsin's typical cosmetology program—students here face one of the higher price tags in the state for essentially median Wisconsin outcomes. The school's 90th percentile national ranking is impressive at first glance, but that's largely because cosmetology programs nationwide earn surprisingly little (the national median is just $17,113). Within Wisconsin's more robust market, this program sits at the 60th percentile, trailing schools like Waukesha County Technical College by more than $5,000 annually.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 means graduates owe about eight months of their first-year income, which is manageable but not exceptional given the higher debt load. Earnings do grow 16% over four years to $25,199, suggesting graduates build a sustainable client base, but several Wisconsin programs deliver similar four-year earnings with considerably less debt. Half of students here receive Pell grants, so the premium pricing particularly impacts families who can least afford it.

For Wisconsin families, this comes down to whether proximity to Kenosha justifies paying $3,000-4,000 more than state alternatives. If your child can attend a technical college or a program like The Institute of Beauty and Wellness instead, they'll likely reach similar earnings with meaningfully less debt.