OPINION: Congress needs to face the ugly truth about cosmetology schools  that don’t pay off

Congress has created new accountability measures for higher education programs but has excluded certificate programs, which are the fastest-growing sector in higher education. These programs enroll over 220,000 students annually, with approximately 80 percent attending for-profit institutions. Despite ongoing concerns about predatory practices, these programs remain largely unmonitored. Cosmetology schools represent a significant portion of these certificate programs, making up 45 percent. These for-profit cosmetology schools, which originated in the 1920s, have historically exploited federal financial aid programs, such as those established by the GI Bill and the Higher Education Act after World War II. This allowed them to inflate tuition fees to maximize financial aid revenue. The "One Big Beautiful Bill" passed last summer introduced crucial benchmarks for student earnings to ensure that degrees provide a financial advantage over a high school diploma, alongside improved repayment options for borrowers. These reforms aim to protect both students and taxpayers by establishing standards for program effectiveness and financial return on investment. However, the continued exemption of certificate programs from similar oversight leaves a significant number of students vulnerable to programs that may not deliver the promised career and financial benefits.