Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia vs Bella Capelli Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bella Capelli Academy comes closer — median earnings $25,817 against a $81,836 total, vs $22,377 at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia | Bella Capelli Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,520 | $20,459 |
| Total net cost | $70,080 | $81,836 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,377 | $25,817 |
| Median debt | $10,667 | $8,028 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$589,740 | -$532,696 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia or Bella Capelli Academy?
Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia, at $17,520 a year after aid versus $20,459 — a gap of $2,939 a year, or $11,756 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia or Bella Capelli Academy graduates earn more?
Bella Capelli Academy graduates report a median $25,817 ten years after entry, $3,440 more than the $22,377 at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia or Bella Capelli Academy?
Bella Capelli Academy: its completers carry a median $8,028 in federal loans versus $10,667 at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia, a difference of $2,639. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Bella Capelli Academy, against 36% at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.