Empire Beauty School Review: Locations, Programs and More

With a large number of schools across 21 states in the USA, Empire Beauty School is the very definition of an institution. After opening one campus in 1934 and growing from there, this company is now one of the leading providers of cosmetology education in the USA.)

Empire Beauty Schools originated in Pennsylvania in 1934, with headquarters in Pottsville and the first Empire Beauty School campus in Wilkes-Barre. Over the next 65 years, the number of Empire Beauty Schools in Pennsylvania grew to over 20.

Empire Beauty Schools continued to grow through acquisition in 2000, with new campuses opening in Atlanta firstly, and subsequently two more in Georgia. The between 2001 and 2003, Empire Beauty Schools continued to expand along the East Coast, opening campuses in Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia. In 2004, five new Empire Beauty Schools were opened in New York City and Boston, and more in Chicago soon after this.

In 2007, Empire Beauty Schools merged with the School Division of Regis Corporate to form Empire Education Group, and after increasing their number of schools through this merger by 51 it became the biggest cosmetology education provider in North America.

The Empire Education Group continued to grow over following years, with new campuses opening in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New York and Ohio between 2008 and 2010. Between 2011 and 2013 even more schools were opened in Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania.

The core purpose of Empire Education Group is ‘to create opportunities for people to improve their lives’, and the company has been doing this for over 80 years. Empire Beauty Schools provide top quality training and education to prospective cosmetology professionals, ensuring they are well equipped for rewarding and successful careers in the beauty industry.

Every Empire training employee aims to nurture and support their students through the education process, and with career assistance after graduation as well. The cornerstone of Empire Education Group is, and always has been, maintaining excellence in education and providing opportunities for others.

Empire Beauty Schools are located in 21 different states across the whole of the USA. These states are :

• Arizona (five campuses)
• Colorado (three campuses)
• Florida (four campuses)
• Georgia (seven campuses)
• Illinois (three campuses)
• Indiana (two campuses)
• Kentucky (five campuses)
• Maine (two campuses)
• Maryland (two campuses)
• Massachusetts (three campuses)
• Michigan (three campuses)
• Minnesota (two campuses)
• New Jersey (five campuses)
• New York (six campuses)
• North Carolina (six campuses)
• Ohio (one campus)
• Pennsylvania (eighteen campuses)
• Rhode Island (one campus)
• Tennessee (five campuses)
• Virginia (three campuses)
• Wisconsin (two campuses)

All Empire Beauty Schools maintain their accreditation through the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences. As well as this, all of the programs offered through Empire Beauty Schools are approved by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences.

Every Empire Beauty School is also licensed as an approved cosmetology training provider in each state that it has a campus. Because of all this, Empire Beauty Schools have an excellent reputation and maintain a high standard of quality education and performance.

While Empire Beauty School may seem like an expensive education option, there are many ways that the financial burden of training there can be eased.  Firstly, you should check to see if you are eligible for financial aid. If you can demonstrate sufficient financial need, you may be eligible for a government issued grant which does not require paying back.

Federal student loans can be applied for and used to fund your education and living costs while you are attending Empire Beauty School, although these loans need to be repaid with interest on completion of your training.

Like many other schools and organizations, Empire Beauty School offers numerous scholarships to the value of one million dollars, so it is important to thoroughly check what you are eligible to apply for. Empire Beauty Schools also offer a $1000 scholarship to first time, full time students if they attend at least 90 percent of their scheduled training hours at school.

If you are a military veteran, there are a range of grants, loans and scholarships available to you, so it will definitely pay to check these out and see what you are able to apply for.

All Empire Beauty Schools have an in house student salon, where cosmetology students are able to utilise and practice their skills on members of the public. A number of services are available at discounted rates, and it is possible for clients to book an appointment or simply walk in. Some of the services on offer include:

Empire Education Group is partnered with a number of hair care and skin care leaders in the industry, these include:

• CND Hands Feet Beauty
• Dermalogica
• Design Essentials Salon System
• Goldwell
• OFRA Cosmetic Laboratories
• Regis Salons
• Regis Signature Salons
• Sexyhair
• Smartstyle Hair Salons Regis
• Supercuts

These industry leaders offer invaluable salon placements to students, while also featuring heavily in the on site student salons.

Empire Education group created beauty.com for both students and alumni, in order to help them seek and secure career opportunities. This website makes it possible for students and graduates to create and upload their resumes, develop their digital portfolios, look for opportunities to begin or advance their career, and apply for available positions.

Empire Beauty School does not educate students solely in a classroom, instead it goes beyond to create and incorporate events that build on what students learn during their training in the classroom. These events include outreach services, humanitarian programs, fundraisers and opportunities for students to network which is invaluable for securing future career positions.

Empire Beauty Schools also have a philanthropic initiative called Empire Gives Back. This community initiative sponsors CUT IT OUT, which helps to combat domestic violence through a US salon industry program. Empire Gives Back also supports local shelters for women and children, and students and staff have the opportunity to be heavily involved in these initiatives.

Students of Empire Beauty School also have the opportunity to take part in the institution’s National Day of Beauty event, which provides beauty treatments and services to members of the public. All profits from this day are given to domestic abuse shelters throughout the US.

Empire Beauty School is a cosmetology school industry leader for environmentalism, and employs green building initiatives which have received great recognition in the North Carolina and Florida locations.

All Empire Beauty School campuses are eco friendly and utilize energy and water saving technologies as well as other eco conscious initiatives and features such as recycling centers.

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In Conclusion

Empire Beauty School is a large and well established branch of cosmetology schools, offering a variety of training programs which are all licensed by the home states of each campus.

With an excellent and long standing reputation in the beauty industry, national accreditation and a high standard of education, Empire Beauty School also gives students the opportunity to learn and gain valuable experience outside of the classroom, apply for financial support, receive assistance with developing their careers, and give back to their local communities. Students and staff alike are able to embrace the purpose of Empire Beauty School: ‘to create opportunities for people to improve their lives’.

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