Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton

Appleton, WI · Private for-profit · Certificate · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

with a smaller student body of 85 in Appleton, WI.

Program Analysis

The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton's Cosmetology graduates start at $18,603/yr — above the $17,289 national average, though not by a wide margin.

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 40% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $10,311 represents roughly 7 months of the $18,603 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

At #467 of 1,095 Cosmetology programs, The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $31,136 show a 67% jump from the $18,603 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

43 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
39
Low End
43
Score
44
High End
Earnings $18,603/yr (8% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (145,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$326K
12.0% 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
$10,311
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$31,136
67% 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

What does a 43/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Cosmetology. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Can I learn Cosmetology through an apprenticeship instead of The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton?
If The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton's tuition gives you pause, consider that 5 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Cosmetology. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
What's the AI uncertainty for Cosmetology careers?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 40% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
Will Cosmetology graduates from The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton 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 →