Career Training Path › Pennsylvania › Empire Beauty School-North Hills
Empire Beauty School-North Hills
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private for-profit career school
Address: 4768 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 · Phone: (800) 920-4593 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Empire Beauty School-North Hills is a private for-profit trade school in Pittsburgh, PA offering cosmetology programs, accredited by NACCAS.
Empire Beauty School-North Hills has a 46.7% completion rate, below the Pennsylvania average of 66.2%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Graduates carry a median debt of $10,667, with median earnings of $22,377 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance at Empire Beauty School-North Hills is $23,433, and federal financial aid such as FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here. About 72.0% 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 | 23 | $18,217 | $16,897 | $11,743 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | $18,217 | $16,897 | $11,743 |
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-North Hills is a private for-profit trade school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and students here can use federal financial aid, since the school participates in Title IV programs. The campus, situated in a large suburb, primarily offers cosmetology programs, with 25 completers reported in cosmetology out of an undergraduate enrollment of 83.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 46.7%, which is below the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $10,667, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $22,377. The annual cost of attendance is $23,433, and 72.0% of students receive Pell Grants, reflecting a largely low-income student population.
This campus may suit students seeking a focused, single-track program in cosmetology rather than a broad associate-degree pathway; the program length itself is not reported for this campus in federal data, so applicants should confirm timelines directly with the school. Because the completion rate falls below the state average, prospective students—especially career changers weighing time and cost—should review the school's outcomes carefully. Verification of accreditation status and full federal outcome data can be done directly through the accreditor, NACCAS, or via the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Empire Beauty School-North Hills offers cosmetology programs, with 25 reported completers 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 (NACCAS), and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, the school participates in Title IV federal 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 46.7%, which is below the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2%, per federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $10,667, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $22,377.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is $23,433.
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 costs 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 empire.edu to confirm.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through NACCAS and review federal outcome data via the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?450605.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The school offers a focused cosmetology program, which may suit those seeking a single-track career change, though specific fit details for adult learners are not reported in federal data.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in federal data; contact the school directly for details on cosmetology licensing.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Empire Beauty School-North Hills at (800) 920-4593 or through their website, https://www.empire.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby cosmetology schools is not reported in federal data; consult the College Scorecard for similar institutions.
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.