Cosmetology at Capri Beauty College

Capri Beauty College graduates $2,000 below the state median for cosmetology programs—a meaningful gap when you're already starting from modest baseline earnings. First-year income of $15,737 puts this program in the bottom half both statewide (40th percentile) and nationally (34th percentile). Compare that to top Illinois cosmetology programs where graduates earn $24,000+, nearly 50% more than what Capri grads achieve.

The debt burden looks manageable on paper at $9,833, but context matters: you're borrowing that amount to earn less than $16,000 initially. The positive signal here is 18% earnings growth by year four, reaching $18,488, which suggests graduates do gain traction over time. Still, even with that growth, earnings remain well below what stronger programs deliver right out of the gate. With 58% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on this investment to change their financial trajectory.

For parents, the question is whether starting in the bottom 40% of Illinois cosmetology programs makes sense when stronger alternatives exist across the state. The debt isn't crushing, and earnings do improve, but the opportunity cost is real—other programs are placing graduates into $22,000-24,000 jobs from day one. If Capri is convenient or offers specific training your child values, understand they'll likely need those full four years to reach what peers elsewhere earn immediately.