Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 13 reporting college programs.
−$330,543 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $26,547
- Federal debt
- $9,833
- Reporting programs
- 1,199
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $23,086
- Federal debt
- $10,802
- Reporting programs
- 13
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $18,558
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $28,855
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $21,356
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $28,549
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Clover Park Technical College$33,2902Douglas Education Center$32,2453Casal Institute of Nevada$28,8814Central New Mexico Community College$27,3985Central Piedmont Community College$26,5506Bevill State Community College$23,0867Coahoma Community College$22,9188Houston City College$22,6319Gadsden State Community College$18,50410Trinity Valley Community College$18,037Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clover Park Technical CollegeAssociate's Degree | Lakewood, WA | $33,290 | $11,000 | -207% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Douglas Education CenterAssociate's Degree | Monessen, PA | $32,245 | $12,000 | -188% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Casal Institute of NevadaAssociate's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $28,881 | Not available | -238% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Central New Mexico Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $27,398 | Not available | -277% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $26,550 | Not available | -291% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Bevill State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Jasper, AL | $23,086 | Not available | -315% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Coahoma Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Clarksdale, MS | $22,918 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 8 | Houston City CollegeAssociate's Degree | Houston, TX | $22,631 | $31,123 | -320% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Gadsden State Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Gadsden, AL | $18,504 | Not available | -373% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Trinity Valley Community CollegeAssociate's Degree | Athens, TX | $18,037 | $5,500 | -375% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career EducationAssociate's Degree | Pomona, CA | $17,458 | Not available | -369% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Central Oklahoma CollegeAssociate's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | Not available | $10,604 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 13 | Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical CareersAssociate's Degree | Chattanooga, TN | Not available | $7,561 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $33,625 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.