Cosmetology at Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ · Private for-profit · Certificate · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

a compact campus enrolling 390 students in Scottsdale, AZ.

Program Analysis

At $23,700 per year, Cosmetology graduates from Penrose Academy significantly outpace the $17,289 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

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 28% gap from the optimistic case.

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.

At #128 of 1,095 nationally, this is a top-5% Cosmetology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $23,700 to $32,167 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

46 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
42
Low End
46
Score
46
High End
Earnings $23,700/yr (37% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (145,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$342K
7.9% 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
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$32,167
36% 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

Explore what Cosmetology graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 1095 programs nationwide.

Read the full Cosmetology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Cosmetology Overview

Cosmetology at Other Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Cosmetology at Penrose Academy?
At 46/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Cosmetology programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
How affordable is Cosmetology at Penrose Academy?
Median debt of just $6,333 against $23,700/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why does Penrose Academy rank so high for Cosmetology?
Among 1,095 Cosmetology programs, Penrose Academy's #128 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Cosmetology graduates?
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 Penrose Academy.
What's the job market like for Cosmetology from Penrose Academy?
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 →