Cosmetology at VICI Beauty School

VICI Beauty School graduates earn well above the national average for cosmetology programs, but within Wisconsin, the story is less impressive. First-year earnings of $21,773 rank in the 90th percentile nationally—significantly beating the typical cosmetology graduate who earns around $17,000—yet land squarely at the Wisconsin median. In a state where several technical colleges and beauty institutes consistently produce graduates earning $25,000 or more right out of the gate, VICI sits in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile.

The program does show genuine earnings progression. That 24% jump from year one to year four ($21,773 to $27,025) suggests graduates build their client base and skills over time, eventually matching the earnings of the state's top programs. The debt load of $9,290 is reasonable—slightly below both state and national medians—creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 that most graduates can handle within a few years.

For Wisconsin families, this comes down to geography and goals. If you're staying local to Greenfield and value VICI's network in the Milwaukee suburbs, the program delivers solid value. But if you're willing to travel, schools like Waukesha County Technical College offer 25% higher starting salaries for comparable debt. VICI won't hurt your finances, but it won't maximize earning potential either.