Empire Beauty School-Cherry Hill

The academic experience is purely vocational, centered on mastering the technical arts of cosmetology. Empire Beauty Schools are accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS). The curriculum is a blend of interactive theory and intensive hands-on practice, delivered through a self-paced study model where educators "instruct and coach students to achieve competency." Training is explicitly for careers in hair, skincare, or nails, with the national website promoting the ability to "study what you want where you want" across its 76 locations. The pedagogy is built on real-world training designed for fast career entry, eschewing traditional liberal arts. Student discussions online reflect this trade-school reality, with some graduates of traditional high schools finding the focused, practical environment a relief from a "drained" public education system, though others face family pressure to pursue community college instead. The value proposition, as framed by the school, is that "beauty school offers real-world training, financial aid, and fast career entry."

Life at Empire Cherry Hill is defined by the student salon/clinic. This is not a residential campus with dorms and dining halls; it's a professional training ground. The school describes the experience as a "unique blend of creativity, hands-on learning, and professional development." A typical day involves learning technical skills, building confidence, and working with actual clients in the clinic, where appointments are welcome. The environment is intensely practical: students spend time "practicing techniques and learning industry" standards. There is no traditional campus life as found at a university; comparisons of "campus environment, transportation access, housing options, advising support, dining, nearby entertainment, internship" opportunities are largely moot for a commuter trade school. The social and professional spheres merge in the salon, making networking and client interaction part of the daily routine.

Outcomes are mixed and point to the challenges of the for-profit trade school model and the cosmetology industry itself. The six-year graduation rate is reported between 56.82% and 57%, meaning a significant portion of students do not complete their program within 150% of the normal time. For those who do graduate and enter the workforce, the median earnings ten years after entry are $24,397, which places Empire Cherry Hill in the 37th percentile compared to its peer group (where the peer median is $26,653). The first-year retention rate is reported as 71%, which is about average compared to a national rate of 68%. These figures suggest that while the school provides a pathway, success requires significant personal persistence, and the financial return, while a living wage, is modest and below the median for similar institutions.

The average net price after aid—the out-of-pocket cost for students receiving financial aid—is $19,137 per year. This figure includes tuition, living costs, books, and supplies, minus average grants and scholarships. Tuition and aid are central to the school's messaging; it emphasizes that "financial aid is available to those who qualify." Aid options include federal resources like Pell Grants, Federal Student Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized), and Parent PLUS Loans, as well as in-house scholarships. For example, students maintaining 90% cumulative attendance are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship. The school encourages the use of a net price calculator to estimate individual costs. It's important to note that, unlike some non-profit colleges, there is no indication of a "no-loan" policy or a commitment to meet full demonstrated financial need; aid is a patchwork of federal programs and institutional scholarships.

Empire Beauty School-Cherry Hill stands out for its singular, unvarnished focus. It is not trying to be a college; it is a trade school, pure and simple. Its identity is built on immediate, hands-on career training in cosmetology, bypassing general education requirements. The 100% acceptance rate and open admissions policy make it accessible, particularly for non-traditional students or those for whom a four-year degree is not the right path. The culture is embedded in the student salon, where theory meets practice on real clients from day one—a stark contrast to lecture halls. However, its standout nature is a double-edged sword. The modest median earnings and middling graduation and retention rates serve as a concrete reminder that access does not guarantee success. The school offers a direct but demanding route into the beauty industry, one that requires immense self-motivation and where outcomes depend heavily on individual skill, hustle, and the realities of the service-sector economy.