Cosmetology & Spa Academy — ROI, Cost & Payback
Cosmetology & Spa Academy charges a net price of $16,708/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $66,832. Median earnings ten years after entry are $29,779, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Cosmetology & Spa Academy does not clear its cost — it ranks #112 of 116 Illinois colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $16,708/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $66,832 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $29,779 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$18,581/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $7,917 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$438,452 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Cosmetology & Spa Academy's own numbers. Net price $16,708 × 4 years = $66,832 total. Median earnings $29,779 fall $18,581 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $66,832 bill in about 6.7 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Cosmetology & Spa Academy students graduate with?
A median $7,917 in federal loans among completers, or 27% of the $29,779 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Cosmetology & Spa Academy students graduate?
70% finish their degree. Spread the $66,832 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $95,474 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Cosmetology & Spa Academy expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $16,708 net price runs $2,958 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $11,832 more across the full degree.