How much financial aid is available at this school?

The data shows that 64.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating significant financial aid availability for eligible students.

What do graduates typically earn after finishing the cosmetology program?

Graduates of the Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program report a median earnings of $17,416 two years after completion.

What is the completion rate for students at this school?

The reported completion rate is 65.9%, meaning roughly two-thirds of enrolled students finish their program.

Is Empire Beauty School-Reading a public or private institution?

It is a private for-profit school, which is important to note when evaluating costs and funding options.

How many students are currently enrolled?

The school has an average annual enrollment of 90 students, suggesting a very small, intimate learning environment.

Home › Pennsylvania › Cosmetology schools › Empire Beauty School-Reading

Empire Beauty School-Reading

Reading, Pennsylvania · private for-profit · mainly awards certificates · 90 students · CosmetologyBarbering

Avg net price / yr

$18,160

cheaper than 35% of comparable schools

Completion rate

65.9%

Median debt at completion

$10,667

Median earnings (10 yrs after entry)

$23,921

earns ~$1,317.2 per $1k of yearly net price

About

Empire Beauty School-Reading is a private for-profit institution in Reading, PA that primarily offers certificates in cosmetology and related personal grooming services. With a small enrollment of 90 students, the school serves adults seeking hands-on training in beauty services.

What to know

The average annual net price after financial aid is $18,160, and graduates typically leave with a median debt of $10,667. About 65.9% of students complete the program, while those working two years after finishing report median earnings of $17,416. A majority of students, 64.6%, receive Pell Grants to help cover costs.

Net price is 4% above the Pennsylvania median ($17,520) for schools offering these programs. Reported median earnings are 16% below the national median ($28,378) for comparable schools.

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Programs & what graduates earn

Program	Credential	Median earnings 2 yrs after completion
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	undergraduate certificate	$17,416

Get paid while you train instead

Registered apprenticeships are an alternative to paying for school — sponsors pay wages from day one. In Pennsylvania:

3 registered cosmetology apprenticeship programs

Questions students ask

How much financial aid is available at this school?: The data shows that 64.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating significant financial aid availability for eligible students.
What do graduates typically earn after finishing the cosmetology program?: Graduates of the Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program report a median earnings of $17,416 two years after completion.
What is the completion rate for students at this school?: The reported completion rate is 65.9%, meaning roughly two-thirds of enrolled students finish their program.
Is Empire Beauty School-Reading a public or private institution?: It is a private for-profit school, which is important to note when evaluating costs and funding options.
How many students are currently enrolled?: The school has an average annual enrollment of 90 students, suggesting a very small, intimate learning environment.

Other options in Pennsylvania

School	City	Net price / yr	Completion	Earnings (10 yr)
Community College of Allegheny County	Pittsburgh	$13,970	25.3%	$39,449
The Beauty Institute	Whitehall	$15,916	64.4%	$23,580
Altoona Beauty School Inc	Altoona	$25,356	83.7%	$24,246
The Beauty Institute-Ambler	Ambler	$17,878	64.5%	$24,785
Beauty Culture School LLC	Feasterville	$19,995	91.7%	$27,341
Butler Beauty Academy	Butler	$10,406	76.4%	$23,003

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026), school ID 212391. Figures are federally reported medians and may lag current prices. "Not reported" means the federal dataset suppresses or lacks the value — often due to small cohort sizes. How we compute comparisons. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency or school.