Cosmetology at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville

Tricoci University's Libertyville campus produces cosmetology graduates who earn notably more than the typical Illinois beauty school graduate—$19,879 versus the state median of $17,832. That 60th percentile ranking among Illinois programs means graduates here are outearning peers at roughly half the state's 71 cosmetology schools, though they're not quite reaching the earnings of top-tier programs like University of Aesthetics ($24,468) or Illinois Eastern Community Colleges ($24,120). The 14% earnings growth to $22,581 by year four suggests steady career progression as graduates build clientele.

The financial picture is manageable for a field that typically requires modest investment. At $9,000 in median debt—slightly below both state and national averages—graduates owe less than half their first-year earnings. For context, many cosmetology programs saddle students with debt equal to 60-70% of first-year pay or more. The relatively low debt burden matters in a profession where income growth depends on building a client base over time rather than rapid salary jumps.

The bottom line: This represents a solid middle-tier option for Illinois students interested in cosmetology. Your child won't likely match the earnings of graduates from the handful of higher-performing programs, but they'll enter the workforce with modest debt and earnings potential that exceeds what most Illinois beauty schools deliver. For students committed to the cosmetology field, that combination makes this program a reasonable investment.