Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Monroeville

Empire Beauty School-Monroeville delivers solid value in Pennsylvania's competitive cosmetology market, though earnings remain modest as expected in this field. At $16,429 in first-year earnings, graduates earn slightly below the national average but rank in the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania programs—a meaningful distinction in a state with 60 cosmetology schools. The debt load of $13,583 is actually quite reasonable, ranking in just the 16th percentile nationally for debt burden, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83.

The earnings trajectory shows promise, with 21% growth from year one to year four, bringing graduates to nearly $20,000 annually. While this program doesn't reach the earnings levels of top Pennsylvania performers like Metro Beauty Academy ($21,226), it significantly outperforms many in-state competitors while keeping debt relatively low. For context, nearly half of students receive Pell grants, indicating the school serves students from lower-income backgrounds who benefit from accessible career training.

The bottom line: This program offers a practical path into cosmetology with below-average debt and above-average performance within Pennsylvania. While cosmetology won't lead to high earnings, Empire-Monroeville provides solid training without the excessive debt burden that plagues many beauty schools, making it a reasonable choice for students committed to this career path.