Cosmetology at Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines

Des Moines, IA · Private for-profit · Certificate · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

a compact campus enrolling 74 students in Des Moines, IA.

Program Analysis

At $20,355 per year, Cosmetology graduates from Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines earn slightly above the $17,289 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 32% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Cosmetology career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $6,333 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines ranks #199 among 1,095 Cosmetology programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 43% earnings increase from $20,355 to $29,143 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 5 apprenticeship pathways connected to Cosmetology reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

44 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
40
Low End
44
Score
44
High End
Earnings $20,355/yr (18% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (145,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$315K
9.4% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
8 of 8
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$6,333
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$29,143
43% growth from Year 1

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%
Personal service managers, all other
$61,340
+6.5% growth 48% AI-proof
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
$50,280
+8.1% growth 66% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of personal service workers
$47,080
+6.7% growth 59% AI-proof

View all 8 career paths with full salary data →

Cosmetology Career Guide

Cosmetology opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Cosmetology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Cosmetology Overview

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Cosmetology at Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Cosmetology. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Why does Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines rank so high for Cosmetology?
Among 1,095 Cosmetology programs, Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines's #199 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Cosmetology program at Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines?
Yes — 5 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Cosmetology career paths, including Barber. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines.
What's the AI uncertainty for Cosmetology careers?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 32% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
Will Cosmetology graduates from Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Cosmetology have roughly 145,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →