Cosmetology at VH Barber & Styling Academy

VH Barber & Styling Academy's graduates rank in the 80th percentile among Louisiana cosmetology programs, earning $19,545 their first year—nearly $4,000 above the state median of $15,617. That's a meaningful advantage in a field where starting salaries cluster tightly. The $16,500 in debt is higher than typical for cosmetology programs, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84 means graduates earn more than they owe within their first year, which puts them ahead of many beauty school peers.

The caveat: these numbers come from a small graduating class (under 30 students), so individual circumstances could swing outcomes more than at larger programs. Still, the pattern is encouraging—this school serves a majority Pell-eligible student body yet delivers above-average results. For context, competing programs like Aveda Arts in Covington show slightly lower first-year earnings at $18,605, suggesting VH Barber holds its own among Louisiana's stronger cosmetology schools.

For a student committed to cosmetology in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, this program appears to deliver on its value proposition better than most Louisiana alternatives. The debt is manageable if your child completes the program and enters the workforce promptly.