Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Cherry Hill

Empire Beauty School-Cherry Hill delivers below-average earnings for a cosmetology program, with graduates earning $16,251 in their first year—well below both the national median ($17,113) and New Jersey median ($16,687). At the 40th percentile both nationally and within New Jersey, this program consistently underperforms, with several other New Jersey schools producing graduates who earn $2,000-6,000 more annually.

However, there's a significant bright spot in the debt picture. With median debt of $14,492, this program ranks in the 7th percentile nationally for debt levels, meaning 93% of cosmetology programs saddle students with more debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89 is quite manageable—graduates can expect to earn more than their total debt in their first year. While New Jersey cosmetology programs typically have lower debt ($8,428 median), this program's debt level remains reasonable given the field's earning potential.

The practical reality is that your child would graduate with relatively low debt but also lower earning potential compared to other options in the state. Given that cosmetology is a skill-based field where technique and networking often matter more than school prestige, the lower debt burden here might offset the earnings disadvantage. However, if maximizing immediate earning potential is the priority, Robert Fiance Beauty Schools or Cutting Edge Academy would be stronger choices despite likely higher costs.