Empire Beauty School Borrower Defense
What Former Students Should Know

If you attended Empire Beauty School, your student loans may deserve a closer look.

Empire Beauty School, owned by Empire Education Group, appears on Exhibit C of the Sweet v. Cardona settlement, a major Borrower Defense to Repayment case involving schools accused by borrowers of misconduct. The official Exhibit C list names “Empire Education Group — Empire Beauty School.” 

That does not automatically mean every Empire student qualifies, but it is a serious red flag for borrowers who believe they were misled about cost, career outcomes, enrollment, financial aid, or the value of the program.

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Why Empire Beauty School Matters for Borrower Defense

Borrower Defense to Repayment can help cancel federal student loans when a school misled students or violated education laws. The Department of Education explains that borrower defense is available when a school’s misconduct relates to the loan or education services.

For Empire Beauty School borrowers, useful evidence may include:

• Misleading recruitment or enrollment pressure
• Promises about job placement or earnings
• Misrepresentation about program value
• Financial aid confusion or improper loan handling
• Problems involving eligibility documentation
• School policies or conduct that harmed students

Public Legal and Government Records Involving Empire

A U.S. Department of Education Final Program Review Determination for Empire Beauty School in Laurel Springs, New Jersey stated that liabilities totaling $231,407.88 had been repaid by Empire, with additional liabilities due from that program review.

The same federal record also noted an investigation finding involving an employee who assisted students in obtaining fraudulent GEDs or high school diplomas to register for classes at Empire.

Separately, Empire defendants agreed to pay $6.75 million to settle a class action involving allegations that customers were overcharged for student-provided cosmetology services at Empire student clinics in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Empire denied wrongdoing.

A federal class action complaint also alleged that EEG, Inc., doing business as Empire Beauty Schools, used autodialed telemarketing calls and texts to drive enrollment without proper consent. These were allegations in a complaint, not proven findings.

The Sweet v. Cardona Connection

The strongest borrower-facing fact is this: Empire Beauty School is listed in Sweet v. Cardona Exhibit C. That settlement involved borrowers who said their schools misled them, and Exhibit C identified schools connected to covered borrower defense claims.

But here’s the catch: being on the list alone may not be enough for a new application. Your claim should connect your personal experience to specific misconduct.

What Former Empire Students Should Gather

Before applying, collect anything that shows what you were told versus what happened:

• Enrollment agreements
• Financial aid documents
• Texts, emails, brochures, or ads
• Job placement claims
• Graduation or licensing promises
• Complaints made to the school
• Proof of debt and payment history

Want to file on your own? Use the Borrower Defense DIY Guide.

You can also compare Empire with other published school misconduct examples here: usable misconduct, or search the full school list at all universities.

Final Takeaway

If Empire Beauty School left you with debt, broken promises, or a career outcome that did not match what recruiters described, you may have a Borrower Defense argument worth reviewing.

Start your loan relief request today: Speak with a specialist now

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