Cosmetology at Hair Professionals Career College

Hair Professionals Career College's cosmetology program sits squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but lags behind most Illinois competitors—ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide. That gap matters: while graduates here start at $17,015, the top Illinois programs launch students into careers earning $22,000-24,000 right away, a difference of roughly $5,000-7,000 annually that compounds over time.

The program's strongest feature is its debt load. At $10,734, it's manageable and represents just seven months of first-year earnings—better than the typical cosmetology program. Graduates also see solid income growth, reaching $23,604 by year four, a 39% increase that suggests building clientele and skills translate to real earning power. For students from the 56% of families receiving Pell grants, keeping debt below $11,000 while entering a stable profession matters.

The tradeoff is straightforward: you're paying less but earning less out of the gate compared to other Illinois schools. If your child can gain admission to one of the higher-earning programs nearby (several are also in the Chicago area), the extra $5,000+ in year-one earnings would quickly offset any modest difference in tuition. But if accessibility and affordability are priorities, this program delivers reasonable debt for steady, if unspectacular, cosmetology training.