Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Concord

Empire Beauty School-Concord delivers solid but not exceptional results for cosmetology training. With first-year earnings of $18,408, graduates earn about $1,200 more than both national and North Carolina medians for this field, placing the program in the 60th percentile statewide—a respectable middle-tier performance among the state's 75 cosmetology programs.

The debt picture is notably favorable. At $15,765, student debt here is significantly higher than the national median of $9,862, but it's still manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86—meaning graduates typically earn more in their first year than their total debt load. The 11% earnings growth to $20,474 by year four shows steady career progression, though modest compared to other fields.

However, there are clearly stronger options in North Carolina. Top-performing programs like Gaston College produce graduates earning $27,000+ in their first year—about 47% more than Empire's graduates. For families prioritizing return on investment, exploring these higher-performing community college programs could yield significantly better outcomes. Empire Beauty School-Concord is a viable choice that won't burden your child with excessive debt, but it's not the best value available in the state.