Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Cheltenham

Empire Beauty School-Cheltenham's cosmetology program presents a mixed financial picture that requires careful consideration. While graduates start with below-average earnings of $15,679—ranking in just the 34th percentile nationally and 40th percentile among Pennsylvania cosmetology programs—the debt burden is remarkably manageable at $13,583, placing it in the 16th percentile nationally for debt (meaning 84% of similar programs saddle students with more debt).

The program's saving grace is solid earnings growth, with graduates seeing a 30% increase from year one to year four, reaching $20,441. This puts four-year earnings above both national and state medians. However, even after this growth, graduates still trail the top Pennsylvania programs by $700-800 annually. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 is reasonable for cosmetology training, meaning graduates can expect to earn more than their total debt within their first year.

For families considering this investment, the relatively low debt load makes this program less risky than many alternatives, but the below-average starting earnings mean your child will likely need time to build their client base and skills. Given that stronger-performing programs exist within Pennsylvania at similar price points, this school represents a decent but not exceptional choice for cosmetology training.