Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-NE Philadelphia

This Empire Beauty School program delivers typical cosmetology earnings but with notably manageable debt, making it a solid middle-ground choice in Pennsylvania's competitive beauty school landscape. At $17,113 in first-year earnings, graduates earn exactly the national median, though they rank in the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania schools—meaning they outperform most in-state competitors despite earning less than top programs like Metro Beauty Academy ($21,226).

The real advantage here is debt management. With $16,500 in graduation debt compared to a national median of $9,862, this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt levels—meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.96 means graduates typically owe less than one year's salary, which is manageable for this field. Earnings growth of 20% over four years shows decent career progression potential.

While your child won't be among the highest earners in Pennsylvania cosmetology (several schools produce graduates earning $20,000+), they'll enter the workforce with reasonable debt and solid earning potential. For families prioritizing financial prudence over maximum earnings, this represents a practical path into the beauty industry without the debt burden that plagues many beauty school graduates nationally.