Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Cincinnati

Empire Beauty School-Cincinnati graduates begin earning $15,480 after their first year—below both the national and Ohio medians for cosmetology programs. While these earnings grow to $18,097 by year four (a 17% increase), the starting point matters. Within Ohio's competitive cosmetology market, this program sits at the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten similar programs deliver better outcomes. The gap is significant: top Ohio programs like Paul Mitchell Columbus and Salon Institute Toledo produce graduates earning over $22,000 within a year, roughly 50% more than Empire's median.

The debt picture adds pressure to already-modest earnings. At $16,500, graduates carry debt that exceeds their first-year income, creating a ratio of 1.07. This is particularly concerning in cosmetology, where most programs nationwide carry median debt under $10,000. Empire's debt load ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of cosmetology programs leave students with less debt. For a field where earnings typically start low, entering the workforce with above-average debt makes financial independence harder to achieve quickly.

With 64% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on affordable training that leads to stable work. Unfortunately, the combination of below-median earnings and above-average debt creates a challenging financial start. Ohio offers substantially better cosmetology programs with stronger earning potential and lower debt burdens—options worth exploring before committing here.