Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Brooklyn

Empire Beauty School-Brooklyn's cosmetology program delivers below-average earnings outcomes that should give parents pause. With median first-year earnings of just $15,322—well below both the national ($17,113) and New York state ($17,026) medians—graduates earn roughly $1,700-1,800 less annually than typical cosmetology program completers. Among New York's 46 cosmetology programs, this ranks only in the 40th percentile, meaning 60% of comparable state programs produce better-earning graduates.

The debt picture offers some relief, with graduates owing $10,667 at completion—slightly above the national median but still manageable given the program's length. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 means graduates owe about 8.5 months of their first year's income, which is reasonable for a certificate program. Earnings do grow 18% by year four, reaching $18,075, though this still lags behind top-performing New York programs like Aesthetic Science Institute ($22,638) by significant margins.

For families considering this investment, the numbers suggest Empire Beauty School-Brooklyn underperforms relative to other options in New York's competitive cosmetology market. While the debt load won't crush graduates financially, the below-average earning potential means your child would likely fare better at higher-ranked programs within the state, where graduates earn $4,000-7,000 more annually right out of school.