Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Queens

Empire Beauty School-Queens produces concerning financial outcomes that place it well below both national and New York state standards for cosmetology programs. With median first-year earnings of $16,251, graduates earn about $800 less than typical cosmetology graduates nationwide and in New York. More troubling, the program ranks at just the 40th percentile among both national and state peers, meaning 60% of similar programs deliver better earning potential.

The debt picture adds to the concerns. While the $14,492 median debt isn't catastrophic compared to four-year degrees, it's significantly higher than the $9,862 national median and $9,226 New York median for cosmetology programs. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89—nearly a full year's salary in debt for a field where many graduates work part-time or face seasonal income fluctuations. The top-performing cosmetology programs in New York, like Aesthetic Science Institute, help graduates earn $22,638—nearly $6,400 more annually than Empire Beauty School-Queens graduates.

The 16% earnings growth from year one to year four offers some hope, but it's modest given the low starting point. For parents considering this investment, the data suggests exploring other cosmetology programs in New York that deliver stronger earning potential with lower debt burdens. The robust sample size makes these results reliable, not outliers.