Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Speedway

Empire Beauty School-Speedway delivers mixed results for cosmetology students, with earnings that fall below Indiana's median but debt levels that are surprisingly manageable. Graduates earn $17,113 in their first year and $20,472 by year four—placing this program at the 40th percentile among Indiana cosmetology schools, where the state median is $18,592. While these earnings lag behind top Indiana programs like Aveda Fredric's Institute ($24,147) and Paul Mitchell Indianapolis ($23,870), they match the national median exactly.

The program's strongest selling point is its debt structure. At $16,500, student debt here ranks in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of similar programs have higher debt), and it's well below both the national median of $9,862 and Indiana's median of $11,750. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.96, graduates can theoretically pay off their loans in less than a year—a rare achievement in vocational education.

However, the earnings ceiling appears limited. Even after four years, graduates earn just over $20,000, and the program ranks in the bottom half statewide. For families prioritizing immediate job entry with minimal debt, this could work, but those seeking higher earning potential should consider the top-tier Indiana programs, despite their likely higher costs.