Cosmetology at Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy

Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy graduates are earning significantly more than typical cosmetology program completers—$25,612 four years out versus $17,832 statewide and $17,113 nationally. That's a 44% premium over the national median, placing this program in the 60th percentile among Illinois cosmetology schools. The $11,310 debt load sits slightly above state and national averages, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 means graduates could theoretically repay their loans in about seven months of full-time work at their fourth-year earnings level.

The earnings trajectory here is particularly encouraging. Graduates start at $19,587 and see a 31% increase by year four, suggesting they're building clientele and moving beyond entry-level assistant roles. While this program doesn't reach the top tier of Illinois cosmetology earnings (schools like University of Aesthetics hit $24,468), it delivers solidly above-median results for a relatively modest debt investment.

The main caveat: these figures come from a small graduating class, so individual outcomes may vary more than at larger schools. Still, for a student committed to cosmetology as a career path, this program appears to deliver competitive preparation without the debt burden that can plague some beauty schools. The combination of manageable debt and above-average earnings makes this a reasonable investment within the cosmetology field.