Career Training Path › Pennsylvania › Empire Beauty School-Lancaster
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania · Private for-profit career school · Training programs available:
Address: 1801 Columbia Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603 · Phone: (800) 920-4593 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster is a private for-profit trade school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, offering cosmetology programs and accredited by NACCAS.
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster has an 85.3% completion rate, above the state average of 66.2%, with median graduate debt of $13,000 and median earnings of $25,073 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance at Empire Beauty School-Lancaster is $22,572, federal financial aid including Pell Grants is accepted, and 58.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,700 | $36,790 | $55,360 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Pennsylvania (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 50 | $16,444 | $16,342 | $13,000 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | $16,444 | $16,342 | $13,000 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster is a private for-profit trade school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, located in a large suburb. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and students here can use federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants. The campus is focused almost entirely on cosmetology training, with cosmetology schools programs (52 completers) representing its top program area among two total program offerings.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 85.3%, which is above the state average of 66.2% for similar programs. Graduates typically carry a median debt of $13,000, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $25,073. The annual cost of attendance is listed at $22,572, and 58.0% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid.
This campus may suit students seeking focused, single-track training in cosmetology rather than a broad associate-degree pathway; the concentrated program list suggests a career-entry model rather than multi-year study, though exact program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Anyone considering enrollment, including career changers, should verify current accreditation status directly with NACCAS and review the school's outcomes on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling, since program structure and licensing requirements can change.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster offers cosmetology schools programs, with 52 completers reported in this area, making up its top and primary program offering out of two total programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), and its accreditation status is listed as Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 85.3%, which is above the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2% for comparable programs.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $13,000, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $25,073.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is $22,572.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a private for-profit school, which typically means it operates as a business rather than a publicly funded or nonprofit institution; this can affect tuition pricing and financial aid options.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (800) 920-4593 or via https://www.empire.edu/ for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through NACCAS and review official outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?212276.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The school's focused cosmetology program suggests a career-entry model, but specific fit for adult career changers, including schedule flexibility, is not reported in federal data; contact the school to confirm.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in federal data; contact the school at (800) 920-4593 or check with Pennsylvania's cosmetology licensing board.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Empire Beauty School-Lancaster by phone at (800) 920-4593 or visit their website at https://www.empire.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby cosmetology schools is not reported in this dataset; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?212276 for comparisons.
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See all trade and career schools in Pennsylvania or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.