Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Peekskill

The numbers here tell a difficult story: graduates earn just $13,638 in their first year—far below both the state median of $17,026 and the national median of $17,113. This program ranks in the 25th percentile among New York cosmetology programs, meaning three-quarters of comparable programs in the state produce better early earnings. Even after four years, when earnings grow to $19,577, they barely reach what top New York programs deliver immediately after graduation.

The debt picture adds another layer of concern. While $10,667 might sound manageable in absolute terms, it represents 78% of first-year earnings—a ratio that creates real financial strain when you're making less than $14,000 annually. Entry-level cosmetology positions typically don't generate enough income to comfortably handle both living expenses and loan payments.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift with more data, but the gap between this program and stronger alternatives is substantial enough to warrant serious consideration of other options. If cosmetology is the goal, other New York schools are producing graduates who earn $8,000-9,000 more right out of the gate with similar or lower debt loads. That initial earnings advantage compounds quickly in a commission-based field where building a client base determines income trajectory.