Empire Beauty School-Laconia

The academic model is purely vocational, centered on clock-hour completion and state licensing requirements. The curriculum is Empire's proprietary Creative Learning in Cosmetology (CLiC), which blends technical instruction with practical, salon-floor experience. Students choose from a focused set of programs:

• Cosmetology: The flagship program, requiring 1,500 hours (approximately 12 months) of training. Tuition is listed at $18,495. The curriculum covers hair, skin, and nails.
• Esthetics/Aesthetics: A program focused on skincare, requiring 600 hours (approximately 5 months). Tuition is $11,196.

The school also mentions offerings in Educator Training, Hybrid Hairdressing/Cosmetology, and Nail Technology. Progress is strictly monitored: to complete a program, students must meet minimum grade requirements of 75% in academics and maintain 67% attendance, in addition to completing all practical assignments and passing final written and practical exams. The student-faculty ratio is reported as 19:1, facilitating a hands-on, supervised learning environment that mimics a real salon.

Don't expect dormitories, dining halls, or football games. Student life at the Laconia campus is intrinsically tied to the program's professional aims. The campus is a single location at 556 Main Street in downtown Laconia, operating more as a training salon than a traditional college. Reviews from students highlight the intensely practical environment: "They prepare you well for working in a salon. The classes are in depth, the hands on experience is exceedingly valuable." The social fabric is built around cohort bonding and in-school activities like student superlatives and events promoted through the school's social media. The school fosters a sense of community and professional identity, with students comparing notes on their practical work and career aspirations. The focus remains squarely on developing the technical skills and client-interaction experience necessary to pass state board exams and thrive in a salon environment.

Outcomes are measured by program completion, licensure, and earning potential. The graduation rate (completion within 150% of normal time) is reported as 64.29%, based on a cohort where 9 out of 14 candidates completed their courses. For graduates, the canonical figure for median earnings 10 years after entry is $33,546. This financial outcome is contextualized by the program's cost and duration, aiming for a return on investment through stable employment in the beauty industry. The school's success is ultimately judged by its ability to prepare students to pass state licensing exams and secure jobs as cosmetologists or estheticians.

The cost structure is transparent and program-specific. The canonical average net price after aid is $11,382. However, the sticker prices are higher: the Cosmetology program tuition is $18,495, and the Esthetics program is $11,196. Financial aid is a critical component for most students. The school states that "most Empire students qualify for financial aid," and last year, 80% of students received grants. Aid options include federal and state grants, scholarships, and loans. Empire offers its own attendance-based scholarship: students reaching 90% cumulative attendance are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship. The school provides a Net Price Calculator for prospective students to estimate their costs and emphasizes that its Financial Aid team guides applicants through the process. Notably, the Laconia-Hooksett campuses were allocated $360,223 in federal HEERF funding, with $180,111 designated for direct student assistance.

Empire Beauty School-Laconia stands out precisely because it rejects the conventions of traditional higher education. It is not a college; it's a trade school with a brutally clear value proposition. Its 100% acceptance rate and open admissions policy make career training in the beauty industry accessible to a wide population in New Hampshire's Lakes Region. It excels in providing a concentrated, hands-on, salon-floor education through its proprietary CLiC curriculum, with success metrics tied directly to state board readiness and job placement. There is no "holistic review" or "liberal arts core"—just the clock-hour grind toward a professional license. For a student certain about a career in cosmetology or esthetics, it offers a faster, more direct, and often more affordable path than a degree program, with a focus on the practical skills that pay immediate dividends in the workforce.