Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia vs Bryn Athyn College of the New Church: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bryn Athyn College of the New Church comes closer — median earnings $40,457 against a $82,344 total, vs $22,377 at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia | Bryn Athyn College of the New Church |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,520 | $20,586 |
| Total net cost | $70,080 | $82,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $22,377 | $40,457 |
| Median debt | $10,667 | $22,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$589,740 | -$240,404 |
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 Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia, at $17,520 a year after aid versus $20,586 — a gap of $3,066 a year, or $12,264 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 Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates earn more?
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church graduates report a median $40,457 ten years after entry, $18,080 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 Bryn Athyn College of the New Church?
Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia: its completers carry a median $10,667 in federal loans versus $22,250 at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, a difference of $11,583. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, 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.