Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Littleton

This cosmetology program at Empire Beauty School-Littleton delivers below-average outcomes that should give parents pause. With first-year median earnings of just $15,322, graduates earn significantly less than both the national average ($17,113) and especially the Colorado state median ($20,014) for cosmetology programs. Among Colorado's 28 cosmetology schools, this program ranks in only the 25th percentile—meaning 75% of comparable in-state programs produce better-earning graduates.

The debt picture adds to the concern. While the $10,667 median debt isn't catastrophic, it's above both national and state averages for cosmetology programs. More troubling is the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70, meaning graduates typically owe about 70% of their first year's income. Colorado has several stronger alternatives: Elevate Salon Institute produces graduates earning $27,005 (76% more), while Aveda Institute and Paul Mitchell graduates earn over $26,000—all within the same metro area.

The 18% earnings growth from year 1 to year 4 shows some improvement potential, but even at $18,075 after four years, graduates still trail many other Colorado cosmetology programs' first-year outcomes. For a field where location and school reputation matter significantly for job placement and client development, this program's underperformance relative to state peers makes it a questionable investment when better options exist nearby.