Cosmetology at Bellus Academy-El Cajon
with a smaller student body of 205 in El Cajon, CA.
Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $14,350/yr fall 17% below the $17,289 national median for Cosmetology. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Some AI exposure exists in Cosmetology's career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $7,917 represents roughly 7 months of the $14,350 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.
Ranked #864 of 1,095 Cosmetology programs, Bellus Academy-El Cajon falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $14,707 are relatively flat compared to the $14,350 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.
Cosmetology offers 5 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
Top Career Paths
Top career paths for Cosmetology graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal service managers, all other | $61,340 | +6.5% | 48% |
| Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | $50,280 | +8.1% | 66% |
| First-line supervisors of personal service workers | $47,080 | +6.7% | 59% |
Cosmetology Career Guide
Explore what Cosmetology graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 1095 programs nationwide.