Career Training Path › Pennsylvania › Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley
Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley
Whitehall, Pennsylvania · Private for-profit career school · Training programs available:
Address: 1634 MacArthur Rd, Whitehall, PA 18052 · Phone: (800) 920-4593 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley is a private for-profit trade school in Whitehall, PA offering cosmetology programs, accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley has a 66.7% completion rate, near the state average of 66.2%, with median graduate debt of $13,000 and median earnings of $25,073 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance at Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley is $22,928, federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here, and 62.7% 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 | 43 | $16,444 | $16,342 | $13,000 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | $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-Lehigh Valley is a private for-profit trade school located in Whitehall, Pennsylvania. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and students can use federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, to help pay for enrollment. The campus's main program area is cosmetology, with 47 completers reported in cosmetology schools programs.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 66.7%, which is near the state average of 66.2% for similar programs. Graduates 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 $22,928, and 62.7% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
This campus, with an undergraduate enrollment of 99 students in a large suburb setting, centers on cosmetology training. Because the program length is not detailed in this data, prospective students should confirm program duration and schedule directly with the school. Career changers interested in cosmetology may want to verify accreditation status and outcome data through the school's accreditor and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling, since specific placement rates are not reported for this campus in federal data.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley offers cosmetology programs, with 47 program completers reported in this field.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, 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 FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 66.7%, which is near the state average of 66.2%.
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 $22,928.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition pricing and financial aid eligibility compared to public or non-profit institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (800) 920-4593 or visit https://www.empire.edu/ to confirm schedules.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and check outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?212328.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Program length and schedule details needed to assess career-changer fit are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for this information.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (800) 920-4593 for details on cosmetology licensing.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley at (800) 920-4593 or visit https://www.empire.edu/ to apply.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?212328 for comparisons.
Nearby trade and career schools in Pennsylvania
- The Beauty InstituteWhitehall, PA · 68% completion
- Lehigh Valley School of Dental Assisting, Inc.Whitehall, PA · state-licensed school
- Lehigh Valley Barber SchoolBethlehem, PA · 86% completion
- Northampton County Area Community CollegeBethlehem, PA · 24% completion
- Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeSchnecksville, PA · 30% completion
- Triangle Tech Inc-BethlehemBethlehem, PA · career school
- Falcon Institute of Health and ScienceBethlehem, PA · 67% completion
- Lehigh Career & Technical InstituteSchnecksville, PA · technical college
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.