Beauty & Cosmetology: High Finish, Modest Pay
Utah beauty and cosmetology schools often report strong completion rates — but typical pay six years after starting tells a different story. What families should compare before enrolling.
When a student says they want cosmetology or beauty school, families often hear one number first: a completion rate of 85% or higher. That figure is real federal data. It is also not the same as typical pay after starting — and among Utah's beauty and cosmetology certificate providers, the two metrics frequently point in opposite directions.
- Finish on time is the share of students completing within normal program time — brochures often lead with this number.
- Typical pay is median earnings six years after starting — not after graduating, and not a job-placement rate.
- This brief covers 21 Utah beauty, cosmetology, barbering, massage, and related certificate schools in the Part 2 provider table.
- Federal data is institution-level — ask the school for program-specific figures before you sign.
- Use the four-number family worksheet to compare beauty school options with USHE technical colleges side by side.
- Assumption
- A cosmetology or beauty school with a high completion rate is a strong financial bet.
- Question
- Among Utah beauty and cosmetology certificate providers, how do finish rates compare to typical pay?
- Evidence
- Part 2 provider table · 21 beauty/cosmetology institutions · College Scorecard
- Finding
- The evidence suggests high finish rates do not predict high pay in this cluster: 15 schools report both metrics at medians of 78.4% completion and $25K typical pay — vs. USHE technical medians of 79.0% completion and $38K pay.
- Limits
- Institution medians; programs within a school vary. Missing cells mean not reported, not zero.
Utah beauty and cosmetology certificate schools median higher completion than USHE technical colleges but lower typical pay — the tradeoff families should compare before signing enrollment paperwork.
Cluster vs. USHE technical colleges
| Group | Finish on time | Typical pay | Net price ($0–$30k) | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beauty/cosmetology cluster (21 schools) | 78.4% | $25K | $17K | High finish rates, modest typical pay |
| USHE technical colleges (8) | 79.0% | $38K | $3K | Lower completion medians, higher typical pay |
Source: Pathways & Outcomes analysis · College Scorecard · utah-certificate-providers.csv
Beauty and cosmetology schools often report higher finish rates than USHE technical college medians — that is not the same as higher pay.
Source: Pathways & Outcomes analysis · College Scorecard · utah-certificate-providers.csv
USHE technical college medians sit roughly $14K above the beauty/cosmetology cluster in this extract.
Patterns across institutions — not a forecast for your student's program.
- 21 beauty and cosmetology providers in Utah's Part 2 table — 15 of 20 reporting completion are at or above 70%.
- Cluster medians where both fields are reported: 78.4% finish on time, $25K typical pay — roughly $14K below USHE technical pay medians.
- Several schools report ≥85% completion with typical pay under $30K — the pattern behind blended certificate/trade statistics.
- Net price for $0–$30K families at beauty schools medians $17K vs. $3K at USHE technical colleges — verify at your income band.
Utah beauty and cosmetology providers
21 schools in this cluster report at least one outcome field in our extract. Blank cells mean not reported in College Scorecard — ask the school directly.
| Institution | Finish on time | Typical pay | Net price ($0–$30k) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esteem Academy of Beauty | 100.0% | N/A | $10K |
| Myotherapy Massage College | 100.0% | $29K | $19K |
| Top Nails & Hair Beauty School | 92.4% | $28K | N/A |
| Healing Mountain Massage School | 92.1% | $25K | $17K |
| Zion Massage College | 91.5% | N/A | $21K |
| Evans Hairstyling College-St George | 88.0% | N/A | $9K |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Salt Lake City | 87.5% | $23K | $22K |
| Cameo College of Essential Beauty | 85.2% | $27K | N/A |
| Aveda Institute-Provo | 83.8% | $25K | $16K |
| Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-Provo | 83.3% | $25K | $23K |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Logan | 78.4% | $21K | $20K |
| Skinworks School of Advanced Skincare | 73.2% | N/A | $23K |
| Paul Mitchell the School-St. George | 72.5% | N/A | $15K |
| Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-West Jordan | 71.7% | $25K | $17K |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Provo | 71.4% | $23K | $21K |
| Acaydia School of Aesthetics | 68.1% | $17K | $16K |
| The Barber School | 58.7% | $27K | $18K |
| Evans Hairstyling College-Cedar City | 35.3% | $20K | $3K |
| American Beauty Academy | 30.0% | $18K | $12K |
| American Beauty Academy-West Valley Campus | 23.1% | $18K | $14K |
| Bonnie Joseph Academy of Cosmetology & Barbering | N/A | $22K | N/A |
Key takeaway: Beauty and cosmetology schools in Utah often finish students on time — but typical pay six years after starting sits near $25K at cluster medians, well below USHE technical college medians. Ask for pay and net price at your income before you enroll.
Technical note: Source: utah-certificate-providers.csv · College Scorecard · Pathways & Outcomes analysis.
Family conversation guide
Match marketing language to the metric families should verify. Use school profiles when you have a named campus.
| You might hear… | Avoid assuming… | Compare instead |
|---|---|---|
| “They advertise 90% completion” | High completion means strong earnings | Ask for typical pay in cosmetology specifically — cluster median is $25K |
| “It's only 12–18 months” | Short programs are low-risk | Compare net price at your income ($17K cluster median vs. $3K USHE technical) and federal loan debt |
| “Everyone needs a hairstylist” | Demand guarantees income | Typical pay is a median across starters six years ago — not a salary quote or placement rate |
| “Should we skip community college?” | Certificate school is one pathway type | USHE technical colleges offer cosmetology-adjacent trades with $38K typical pay medians — compare named campuses |
What this means for you
Questions to bring to campus visits — not which school to pick.
- Before you tour, ask for both finish-on-time and typical pay in the program your student wants — not campus-wide marketing.
- Line up at least two options on the four-number worksheet (net price, completion, pay, debt).
- Open school profiles when you have a named campus — program tables beat institution averages.
- If your student is also considering skilled trades, compare USHE technical programs and apprenticeship sponsors (Part 6) before signing for-profit tuition.
- Four-number family worksheet — side-by-side comparison
- S-4 investigation — completion vs. pay across all certificate providers
- S-9 investigation — USHE technical vs. for-profit certificate split
- Part 2 — full provider table
- Download CSV — all providers
Updated 2026-06-29. Sources: College Scorecard · Part 2 provider table. Repackage of Opportunity Chain Part 2 for families (backlog F-3).
Pathways & Outcomes original analysis; cite the report and link to the primary URL. Data vintage: Part 2 · utah-certificate-providers.csv.
APA: Pathways and Outcomes. (2026). Beauty & Cosmetology: High Finish, Modest Pay. https://pathwaysandoutcomes.org/utah/research/beauty-cosmetology-high-finish-modest-pay/
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