Career Training Path › Pennsylvania › Empire Beauty School-Reading
Empire Beauty School-Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania · Private for-profit career school
Address: 2302 N 5th St Highway, Reading, PA 19605 · Phone: (800) 920-4590 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Empire Beauty School-Reading is a private for-profit trade school in Reading, 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-Reading has an 82.3% completion rate versus a 66.2% state average, with median graduate debt of $10,667 and median earnings of $23,921 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance at Empire Beauty School-Reading is reported at $23,600, federal financial aid including Pell Grants can be used since the school participates in Title IV, and 64.6% 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 | 25 | $17,189 | $17,416 | $12,090 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | $17,189 | $17,416 | $12,090 |
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-Reading is a private for-profit trade school located in Reading, PA, a large suburb setting. The campus is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning eligible students can use FAFSA-based aid, including Pell Grants. Its main program area is cosmetology, with cosmetology schools programs accounting for 30 completions among its offerings.
Looking at outcomes reported to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the campus completion rate is 82.3%, above the state average of 66.2% for comparable programs. Graduates carry a median debt of $10,667, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $23,921. Annual cost of attendance is reported at $23,600, and 64.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of low-income enrollment.
With an undergraduate enrollment of about 90 students and 30 program completers, this campus appears to run a single-focus, career-oriented cosmetology program rather than a broad multi-trade offering. The available data does not specify program length, so those considering a career change should contact the school directly to confirm schedules and duration. Prospective students can verify accreditation status and review the full outcomes data on the College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Empire Beauty School-Reading primarily offers cosmetology programs, with 30 completions reported in that field. Program count data shows 2 program families overall at this campus.
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 campus participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so eligible students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants. About 64.6% of students here receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 82.3%, which is above the state average of 66.2%, per federal Scorecard data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $10,667, according to College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $23,921.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The reported annual cost of attendance is $23,600.
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 levels and how financial aid and outcomes are evaluated compared with 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 directly at (800) 920-4590 or via https://www.empire.edu/ to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation through the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and review official outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?212391.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data shows a single-focus cosmetology program with a small enrollment of about 90 students, but specific fit for career changers is not detailed in federal data; contact the school to discuss scheduling and program structure.
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) 920-4590 or check state cosmetology licensing boards for specifics.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Empire Beauty School-Reading by phone at (800) 920-4590 or visit https://www.empire.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?212391 to compare 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.