Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Maine

This cosmetology program delivers earnings that beat the national average but falls short within Maine's market. While graduates earn $18,408 in their first year—significantly above the $17,113 national median—they rank in just the 40th percentile among Maine's three cosmetology schools, trailing both competitors by $2,000-$2,700 annually.

The debt picture is more concerning. At $15,765, Empire Beauty School's debt load is nearly 60% higher than both the national median ($9,862) and Maine's typical program debt ($9,833). This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86, meaning graduates carry almost a full year's salary in debt. The modest 11% earnings growth over four years to $20,474 helps somewhat, but doesn't fully offset the higher upfront costs.

The program does rank in the 5th percentile nationally for debt, which actually means it's among the most expensive—a significant red flag. For Maine families, this means paying a premium for below-average state outcomes. Unless this school offers unique advantages not reflected in the earnings data, prospective students would likely get better value at either Spa Tech Institute-Westbrook or Capilo School of Hair Design, both of which offer higher earnings potential with lower debt loads.