Career Training Path › Colorado › Empire Beauty School-Thornton
Empire Beauty School-Thornton
Thornton, Colorado · Private for-profit career school
Address: 3811 E 120th Ave, Thornton, CO 80233 · Phone: (800) 920-4593 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Empire Beauty School-Thornton is a private for-profit trade school in Thornton, Colorado 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-Thornton has a 57.7% completion rate, below the Colorado state average of 69.2%; median graduate debt is $10,667 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $24,397.
Annual cost of attendance at Empire Beauty School-Thornton is $21,857, and federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used since the school participates in Title IV programs; 58.6% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $31,520 | $37,690 | $59,710 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Colorado (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 | 35 | $15,988 | $16,510 | $12,000 |
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-Thornton is a private for-profit trade school located in Thornton, Colorado. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here since the school participates in Title IV programs. The campus focuses on a single program family — cosmetology schools — and awarded 35 completions in this field, out of an undergraduate enrollment of 149 students.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 57.7%, which is below the Colorado state average of 69.2%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $10,667, and median earnings 10 years after entry were reported at $24,397. The annual cost of attendance is listed as $21,857, and 58.6% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of financially needy students at this campus.
This campus offers cosmetology training, a field typically completed through short, hands-on programs rather than multi-year associate degrees, which may suit students seeking a quicker path to a licensed trade or career changers looking for a defined program. Program length itself is not reported for this campus in federal data, so prospective students should confirm scheduling directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and review the latest federal outcome figures, use the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard or contact the school directly.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Empire Beauty School-Thornton offers cosmetology programs, with 35 completions recorded in this field.
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 school participates in Title IV federal aid programs, so students may use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 57.7%, which is below the Colorado state average of 69.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $10,667, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $24,397, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is $21,857.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a private for-profit school, which can mean different pricing and accountability structures than public or non-profit institutions; students should weigh cost against outcomes data.
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) 920-4593 or via https://www.empire.edu/ to confirm.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation and review federal outcomes data through the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?128337.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The cosmetology program is a defined, single-field trade offering that may suit those seeking a focused credential, though specific scheduling and format details are not reported in federal data; check with the school directly.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (800) 920-4593 for specifics on cosmetology licensure in Colorado.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Empire Beauty School-Thornton at (800) 920-4593 or visit https://www.empire.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data against other nearby cosmetology schools is not reported in federal data; use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?128337 to compare campuses directly.
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.