Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Augusta

Empire Beauty School-Augusta's cosmetology program delivers below-average earnings but comes with notably low debt, creating a relatively manageable financial picture for graduates. At $15,679 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $1,400 less than the Georgia state median and $1,434 below the national average. However, the program's strength lies in its conservative debt load—at $13,583, it's actually lower than Georgia's typical cosmetology program debt and well below most national programs.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 means graduates owe less than one year's salary, which is quite reasonable for a vocational program. More encouraging is the 30% earnings growth over four years, with salaries climbing to $20,441—nearly matching the national median. Among Georgia's 45 cosmetology programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile for earnings, meaning there are clearly stronger options like Lanier Technical College ($22,686) or Atlanta School of Massage ($20,792) that deliver significantly higher starting salaries.

For families prioritizing affordability and manageable debt over maximum earnings potential, this program offers a viable path into cosmetology without crushing financial burden. However, if your child can access one of Georgia's higher-performing programs, the $2,000-7,000 difference in starting salary could justify exploring those alternatives first.