Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Union

Empire Beauty School-Union delivers solid results for a cosmetology program, with graduates earning $18,408 in their first year—notably above both the national median ($17,113) and New Jersey state median ($16,687). Among New Jersey's 24 cosmetology programs, this school ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, placing it in the upper half of state options. The program's debt load of $15,765 is higher than typical for cosmetology schools nationally and in New Jersey, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 means graduates can reasonably expect to pay off their loans within about a year of full-time work.

The earnings trajectory shows modest but steady growth, with graduates seeing an 11% increase to $20,474 by year four. While cosmetology isn't a high-earning field overall, this program performs respectably within its category. The fact that 50% of students receive Pell grants suggests the school serves many students from lower-income backgrounds who are using this program as a pathway to stable employment.

For parents considering this investment, the numbers work: your child would graduate with manageable debt and earnings that exceed state and national averages for the field. While Empire Beauty School-Union isn't the top performer in New Jersey, it's a solid middle-tier choice that should provide a reasonable return on investment for students committed to the cosmetology profession.