Certificate (under 1 year)+6% vs national median218 grads tracked
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services at Wharton County Junior College
Ranked 11th of 48 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$23,487
middle 50%: $18,042 – $29,336
Median · 5 years out
$34,978
middle 50%: $25,452 – $49,645
Median · 10 years out
$32,639
middle 50%: $24,761 – $45,600
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Cosmetology certificate graduates earn a median starting salary of $23k. Earnings increase to a median of $35k after five years of employment.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
15.1 yrs
≈ $17,873 total interest
Same major at other universities
Midland College
$37,592 · 5 yrs out
Pickens Technical College
$37,012 · 5 yrs out
San Jacinto Community College District
$36,683 · 5 yrs out
Lone Star College System
$36,097 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$35,776 · 5 yrs out
Mountainland Technical College
$35,233 · 5 yrs out
Clarendon College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Lee College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Davis Technical College
$34,399 · 5 yrs out
Ogden-Weber Technical College
$34,228 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$33,650 · 5 yrs out
Grayson College
$33,281 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Wharton County Junior College
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$147,658 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$140,234 · 5 yrs out
Physical Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$133,973 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$86,887 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$74,416 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$72,884 · 5 yrs out
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate)
$71,728 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$69,441 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate)
$67,476 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$65,590 · 5 yrs out