Cosmetology at Phipps Academy of Barbering

The small sample size here demands caution, but these numbers raise serious concerns about whether graduates can support themselves, let alone repay their loans. First-year earnings of just $11,369—barely above poverty wages—place this program in the bottom 10% statewide and bottom 5% nationally. Compare that to Illinois' median cosmetology program at $17,832, or top performers in the state earning $22,000-$24,000. That's not a modest gap; graduates here are making roughly half what they could earn from stronger programs in the same state.

The debt load isn't catastrophic by national standards, but at $11,583, it nearly equals first-year earnings—a ratio that suggests even minimum loan payments could strain already thin budgets. For the 90% of students here receiving Pell grants, financial margin matters enormously. With 71 cosmetology programs across Illinois, parents should demand better evidence that this particular pathway leads to viable employment. The field can offer decent earnings, as Illinois' stronger programs demonstrate, but this data suggests graduates here aren't accessing those opportunities.

If your child is committed to cosmetology, look hard at other Illinois options with proven track records of placing graduates in better-paying positions. Even modest improvements in starting salary make debt manageable and build a foundation for career growth.