Cosmetology at Trend Barber College

Trend Barber College graduates earn roughly $13,700 in their first year—about $3,700 less than Texas's median for cosmetology programs and $2,700 below typical graduates nationwide. Among the 151 cosmetology schools in Texas, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of competing programs produce higher earnings. The top programs in the state, like Paul Mitchell Austin and Champion Beauty College, see graduates earning around $26,000-$27,000, nearly double what Trend graduates make.

The $14,584 in debt looks modest on paper, but it exceeds first-year earnings—a red flag for any program, especially in a field where most workers don't need college credentials to enter. While earnings do grow to $15,719 by year four, that's still barely above minimum wage and leaves graduates trailing the typical Texas cosmetology graduate by about $700 annually. The school serves a predominantly low-income population (91% receive Pell grants), making this earnings-to-debt mismatch particularly concerning for families with limited financial cushion.

If your child is set on cosmetology training in Houston, the data suggests looking elsewhere. Several Texas programs deliver similar credentials with markedly better financial outcomes and lower debt burdens. This isn't about the profession itself—it's about this particular program's ability to launch careers that justify even its modest borrowing costs.