Empire Beauty School-Lancaster
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access and students from lower-income families. for-profit institutions have higher scrutiny — research carefully. strong 84% graduation rate; 58% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster is a private for-profit institution located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with approximately 85 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $17,135 per year. The graduation rate is 84%, and the typical graduate earns $24,500 within 10 years of enrollment.
For students who are focused, career-minded, and eager to enter the beauty industry without spending years in a traditional college setting, this school offers a straightforward path to licensure in Lancaster, PA. The 84% graduation rate is genuinely strong for a cosmetology program — most comparable schools struggle to break 60% — and a median debt of $13,000 at graduation is relatively manageable for a vocational credential. That said, the earnings picture deserves an honest conversation: median income of $24,500 a decade after enrollment is tight, and you'll want to think carefully about your monthly budget once loan repayments begin. At $17,135 per year in net costs, the program isn't cheap relative to what many graduates earn, so I'd encourage families to ask directly about financial aid options, payment plans, and what local salons are actually paying new hires in the Lancaster area. If your student is passionate about this field and has a clear plan — whether that's building a clientele, specializing in a niche service, or eventually owning a salon — this can be a solid launching pad, but go in with eyes open about the income ceiling.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (85 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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Drexel University
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See How Colleges Compare
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Empire Beauty School-Lancaster cost?
The average net price at Empire Beauty School-Lancaster is about $17,135 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Empire Beauty School-Lancaster?
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster has a graduation rate of 84%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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