Cosmetology at Stewart School

Sioux Falls, SD · Private for-profit · Certificate · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

with a smaller student body of 148 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Stewart School's Cosmetology program earn $22,684/yr in their first year — 31% above the $17,289 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 20% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Cosmetology career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

At $6,211 in median debt against $22,684 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Stewart School ranks #148 among 1,095 Cosmetology programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 25% earnings increase from $22,684 to $28,344 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.

45 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
41
Low End
45
Score
46
High End
Earnings $22,684/yr (31% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (145,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$295K
5.7% 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
$6,211
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$28,344
25% 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

Cosmetology at Other Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Stewart School's Cosmetology program score?
A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Cosmetology. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
What's the typical debt for Cosmetology graduates from Stewart School?
Median debt of just $6,211 against $22,684/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.
What makes Stewart School's Cosmetology program stand out?
Among 1,095 Cosmetology programs, Stewart School's #148 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Can I learn Cosmetology through an apprenticeship instead of Stewart School?
Beyond Stewart School's classroom route, 5 registered apprenticeships map to Cosmetology careers — including Barber. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Is there demand for Cosmetology workers?
At 145,700 annual openings, Cosmetology has a very large employment base. Stewart School graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →