Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee

Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee delivers above-average national results but falls short of Wisconsin's stronger cosmetology market. With first-year earnings of $18,639, graduates earn about $1,500 more than the national median for cosmetology programs and rank in the 63rd percentile nationally. However, they earn roughly $3,000 less than the typical Wisconsin cosmetology graduate, placing them in just the 40th percentile statewide.

The debt picture is notably favorable. At $13,849, student debt sits well below both national and state medians, ranking in the 13th percentile nationally (meaning 87% of programs have higher debt loads). This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74, meaning graduates can expect to earn back their full debt burden in less than nine months. The earnings growth from $18,639 to $20,245 over four years is modest but steady at 9%.

For Wisconsin families, this represents a middle-tier choice in a state with particularly strong cosmetology programs. While Empire's low debt load makes it financially accessible, several Wisconsin technical colleges and institutes offer significantly higher earning potential—some exceeding $25,000 in first-year earnings. If your child can access these higher-performing programs, the additional earning power would likely justify any modest increase in costs.