Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Rochester

Empire Beauty School-Rochester delivers below-average outcomes in a field where earnings are already modest. With first-year median earnings of $15,322, graduates earn about $2,000 less than both the national and New York state medians for cosmetology programs. Among New York's 46 cosmetology schools, this program ranks in just the 40th percentile—meaning 60% of similar programs in the state produce better earning outcomes.

The debt picture is mixed but manageable. At $10,667, student debt is slightly above both national and state medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. While this isn't catastrophic, it means graduates carry more debt while earning less than peers at other schools. The 18% earnings growth to $18,075 by year four shows some improvement, but graduates still lag significantly behind top-performing New York programs like Aesthetic Science Institute ($22,638) and others that consistently produce $20,000+ earners.

For parents considering this investment, the numbers suggest looking elsewhere. With 46 cosmetology programs across New York, many offer substantially better earning potential for similar or lower debt levels. Given that cosmetology is already a lower-earning field nationally, choosing a program in the bottom half of state performers could limit your child's financial prospects in an industry where every dollar matters.