Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia

Empire Beauty School's cosmetology program delivers below-average earnings but maintains surprisingly manageable debt levels. With first-year median earnings of $16,062, graduates earn less than both the national average ($17,113) and rank in just the 38th percentile nationally and 40th percentile within Pennsylvania. However, the program's debt load of $13,583 is relatively reasonable—creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85, which is quite favorable compared to many vocational programs.

The earnings picture improves modestly over time, with a 25% growth to $20,024 by year four, though this still lags behind top Pennsylvania programs like Metro Beauty Academy ($21,226) and Penn Commercial ($20,871). The program's strength lies in its debt management—ranking in just the 16th percentile nationally for debt burden, meaning 84% of similar programs saddle students with more debt.

For anxious parents, this represents a mixed but not unreasonable investment. Your child won't graduate with crushing debt, and the 25% earnings growth suggests career progression is possible. However, with 66% of students needing Pell grants and earnings below state medians, this isn't a pathway to quick financial success. If your child is passionate about cosmetology, this program offers a relatively affordable entry point, but consider whether higher-performing Pennsylvania schools might justify slightly higher costs for significantly better earning potential.