True College Verdict
F

Award Beauty School

Hagerstown, MD · 94 undergraduates · 36% receive Pell Grants
For-profitMainly certificates

Among the weakest of its kind. Look at alternatives before enrolling. It ranks 1,944 of 1,952 certificate schools on student outcomes, with an overall score of 15.5 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $23,048 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $17,716.
Will most students finish?
About half
52% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 71%.
Is it worth the price?
Mixed
Graduates owe a typical $13,000 against earnings of $23,836, a ratio of 0.55. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Award Beauty School. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

Nothing stands out as clearly better than similar colleges.

Why it is bad

  • Only 52% of students graduate. 76% of certificate schools do better.
  • Many students leave early: only 55% of first-year students return for a second year.
  • Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $23,836, lower than 93% of certificate schools.
  • Debt is heavy for the pay: graduates owe a typical $13,000 in federal loans against earnings of $23,836.
  • Expensive: the average student pays about $23,048 a year after grants, more than at 70% of certificate schools.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
52%
Better than 24% of similar colleges. Typical: 71%
Return for year 2
55%
Better than 13% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$23,836
Better than 7% of similar colleges. Typical: $36,576
Debt at graduation
$13,000
Better than 2% of similar colleges. Typical: $9,500
Net price per year
$23,048
Better than 30% of similar colleges. Typical: $17,716
Published tuition
n/a
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Certificates and diplomas: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services50$13,770$9,500

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Award Beauty School, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

Compare with other colleges Estimate your cost

The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other certificate schools. Individual majors can be much better or worse.