Career Training Path › Texas › Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy
Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy
Amarillo, Texas · Private for-profit
Address: 2520 Paramount Blvd, Amarillo, TX 79109 · Phone: (806) 331-9233 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Apr 2024 · Monitoring · National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences; Jul 2026 · Renewal of Accreditation. 2 sanction actions in the window.
Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Amarillo, Texas offering cosmetology and barber programs, accredited by NACCAS.
Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy has a 52.5% completion rate, below the state average of 63.5%, and graduates carry median debt of $9,833, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported.
Annual cost of attendance at Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy is $32,528, federal financial aid including Pell Grants can be used here, and 65.4% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,580 | $30,680 | $47,180 |
| Barbers | $28,340 | $30,760 | $37,160 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Texas (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 46 | $11,577 | $13,896 | $9,833 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 41 | $11,577 | $13,896 | $9,833 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | $11,577 | $13,896 | $9,833 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Amarillo, Texas, accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences. The campus participates in federal financial aid programs (Title IV), and it primarily awards credentials in cosmetology and barbering, with cosmetology schools and barber schools listed as its top programs among 3 total program offerings.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 52.5%, which is below the state average of 63.5%. Median debt for graduates who took out federal loans is $9,833. Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $32,528, and 65.4% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid.
This campus, with 129 undergraduate students and 90 trade completers reported, is set in a midsize city and centers on hands-on cosmetology and barbering instruction rather than academic degree programs. Whether this fits an adult career-changer depends on specifics like program length and schedule, which are not reported here — prospective students should contact the school directly. To verify accreditation status and review the latest federal outcomes data, check with the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and consult the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy offers cosmetology schools and barber schools programs, totaling 3 programs across these families.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, with a status of Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 52.5%, which is below the Texas state average of 63.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates is $9,833, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard link for updates.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The reported annual cost of attendance is $32,528.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition levels and the type of institutional oversight applied compared to public or non-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (806) 331-9233 or via its website for current program schedules.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and review outcomes data on the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?476896.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Fit for career changers depends on program length and schedule details that are not reported in federal data; contact the school to discuss options for adult students.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements for cosmetology and barbering are set by the state of Texas and are not detailed in federal data; contact the school or the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for specifics.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy at (806) 331-9233 or through its website, https://www.wadegordonacademy.com/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in federal data; the College Scorecard can be used to look up other institutions in the Amarillo area.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.