Empire Beauty School-Reading
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. 65% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Empire Beauty School-Reading is a private for-profit institution located in Reading, Pennsylvania with approximately 90 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $18,160 per year. The graduation rate is 66%, and the typical graduate earns $22,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
This school is best suited for students in the Reading area who are committed to a cosmetology career and need a local, accessible program to get licensed quickly — but the numbers here deserve a careful look before you commit. The graduation rate sits at 66%, which means roughly one in three students who start don't finish, so it's worth honestly asking yourself whether the timing, finances, and personal circumstances are lined up to see it through. The median debt at graduation is a manageable $10,667, which is genuinely lower than many programs, but the harder truth is that median earnings 10 years out are only $22,000 — meaning graduates are often repaying loans on a very tight income. At $18,160 per year in net costs, this isn't a cheap path relative to what it typically pays, and you'd want to go in with eyes open about the earning ceiling in cosmetology, especially in this regional market. My honest advice: if you're serious about this field, talk to working stylists in Reading about their actual income, explore whether community-based or employer-sponsored training might cost less, and only proceed here if you have a clear financial plan and strong support to help you finish.
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 (90 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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Drexel University
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Community College of Philadelphia
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See How Colleges Compare
Empire Beauty School-Reading 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-Reading cost?
The average net price at Empire Beauty School-Reading is about $18,160 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-Reading?
Empire Beauty School-Reading has a graduation rate of 66%, 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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