Cosmetology at Traxlers School of Hair

The numbers here are troubling: graduates earn just $9,525 in their first year—barely half the Mississippi state median for cosmetology programs and among the lowest 5% nationally. Even four years out, earnings climb only to $12,671, still well below what graduates from community colleges like Hinds ($17,704) or Northwest Mississippi ($17,660) achieve right after completing their programs.

The relatively low debt of $5,250 provides minimal comfort when weighed against these earnings. While that's about half the state average for cosmetology programs, it still represents more than half a year's income for first-year graduates. The 74% Pell grant rate suggests students here already face financial constraints, making every dollar of debt and lost earning potential matter more. With Mississippi offering 28 cosmetology programs—including several community colleges with significantly better outcomes and likely similar or lower costs—there's little reason to accept these results.

The small sample size means these figures might not be perfectly representative, but the pattern is consistent enough to warrant serious concern. For a parent considering this investment, the clearest path forward is exploring the community college options that dominate the top of Mississippi's cosmetology rankings.