La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology
Mason City, IA 50401-3308
About La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is a private for-profit trade school in Mason City, Iowa, enrolling about 56 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. The published completion rate is about 76.47% at 150% of normal time. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $27,484 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 76.47%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $27,484.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1419% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology | — | $4,522 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| Iowa (state median) | $20,270 | $11,272 | 49 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology really?
Key findings
- Average net price runs below the Iowa median net price.
Evidence: average net price at La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is $4,522.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $4,522 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $6,750 below the Iowa median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $10,449 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Avg. net price
$4,522
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $3,738 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $3,505 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $2,537 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $5,774 |
| $110,001+ | $16,232 |
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is known for
Top program completions
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist16
- Real Estate Development15
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General12
- Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage4
See earnings & programs for more.
Is La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology.
Campus
Location
Mason City, IA
City / state
- ZIP
- 50401-3308
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is about 0.3× the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Plains
Size
Enrollment
56
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 85
- Full-time share
- 100%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$6,930
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 54.74%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional where not shown.
Tuition vs average net price after aid for La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | — | — | $11,157 |
| 2014 | — | — | $10,496 |
| 2015 | — | — | $11,247 |
| 2016 | — | — | $9,389 |
| 2017 | — | — | $9,359 |
| 2018 | — | — | $9,308 |
| 2019 | — | — | $8,394 |
| 2020 | — | — | $7,540 |
| 2021 | — | — | $6,755 |
| 2022 | — | — | $8,008 |
| 2023 | — | — | $9,098 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology reported total enrollment of about 56 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 2% male and 98% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (75.0%), Hispanic or Latino (14.3%), and Black or African American (10.7%). About 54.74% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology in 2024 is 56 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 85 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
91.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
76.47% 100% Completion Time
76.47% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 76.47% of students graduating from La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist: 0% male / 100% female
- Real Estate Development: 7% male / 93% female
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 17% male / 83% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology graduates earn a median of $27,484 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $27,484. Median federal loan debt: $6,930. Average net price used in cost models: $4,522.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology graduates report median earnings of $27,484 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 4 programs by IPEDS completions (5 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $2,601
- Iowa median 0.31× the median ($8,352)
- Plains median 0.32× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 0.36× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology at a glance
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution in Mason City, IA.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care SpecialistReal Estate DevelopmentCosmetology/Cosmetologist, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian75.0%Hispanic or Latino14.3%Black or African American10.7%
Schools near La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology
Other campuses in Mason City, IA when available, plus nearby institutions in Iowa.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Iowa, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology located?
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is located in Mason City, IA.
How much does La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology cost?
Reported tuition is N/A and average net price is $4,522 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What explains La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($4,522), completion (76.5% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($27,484). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology?
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology reports undergraduate enrollment of about 85 students, White (75.0%), Hispanic or Latino (14.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology earn?
Median earnings are $20,024 six years after entry and $27,484 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology?
The 150%-time completion rate is 76.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $6,930.
Is La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology public or private?
La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution located in Mason City, IA.
Is La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology an HBCU?
No. La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology a tribal college?
No. La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology does not meet that proxy (reported share 14.3%).
Is La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.