Cosmetology at Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Granite Falls, MN · Public · Certificate · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

with a smaller student body of 1,700 in Granite Falls, MN.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $17,767 track close to the $17,289 national median for Cosmetology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 28.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Cosmetology programs nationally.

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.

At $8,730 in median debt against $17,767 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #612 of 1,095 Cosmetology programs, Minnesota West Community and Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Cosmetology offers 5 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

42 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
40
Low End
42
Score
42
High End
Earnings $17,767/yr (3% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (145,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$186K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
28.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
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.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$6,484
Out-of-state: $12,332
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,730
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

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

See the full career breakdown for Cosmetology — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Minnesota West Community and Technical College and 1094 other schools.

Read the full Cosmetology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Cosmetology Overview

Cosmetology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Cosmetology at Minnesota West Community and Technical College?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Cosmetology. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Are there apprenticeship options for Cosmetology?
The DOL recognizes 5 apprenticeship pathways related to Cosmetology. For students weighing Minnesota West Community and Technical College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Will Cosmetology graduates from Minnesota West Community and Technical College 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 →