Federal data
Highest earning certificate cosmetology programs in Illinois
Illinois cosmetology programs, ranked by median earnings one year after completion, from the College Scorecard field-of-study file (September 18, 2026). Only programs with at least 30 counted graduates in the earnings sample are shown, and at least 5 programs must qualify for this list to exist.
| Rank | School | City | Sector | Median earnings, 1 year after | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Peru | PERU | For-profit, under 2-year | $22,967 | 30 |
| 2 | The Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness Chicago | Chicago | For-profit, under 2-year | $22,351 | 114 |
| 3 | Cosmetology & Spa Academy | Crystal Lake | For-profit, under 2-year | $22,096 | 186 |
| 4 | G Skin & Beauty Institute | Schaumburg | For-profit, under 2-year | $21,461 | 406 |
| 5 | University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts | Springfield | For-profit, under 2-year | $21,114 | 134 |
| 6 | Cameo Beauty Academy | Oak Lawn | For-profit, under 2-year | $20,447 | 34 |
| 7 | Tricoci University of Beauty Culture | Urbana | For-profit, under 2-year | $20,228 | 104 |
| 8 | Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute | Skokie | For-profit, under 2-year | $20,095 | 146 |
| 9 | Tricoci University of Beauty Culture | Libertyville | For-profit, under 2-year | $19,879 | 202 |
| 10 | Hair Professionals School of Cosmetology | Oswego | For-profit, under 2-year | $19,563 | 59 |
| 11 | The University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology | Downers Grove | For-profit, under 2-year | $19,397 | 34 |
| 12 | Pivot Point Academy | Bloomingdale | For-profit, under 2-year | $19,088 | 86 |
| 13 | G Skin & Beauty Institute | Oakbrook | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,987 | 289 |
| 14 | Universal Spa Training Academy | Downers Grove | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,078 | 116 |
| 15 | Paul Mitchell the School | Chicago | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,073 | 213 |
| 16 | Paul Mitchell the School-Tinley Park | Tinley Park | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,057 | 160 |
| 17 | Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview | Bridgeview | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,943 | 216 |
| 18 | Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology | Sterling | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,383 | 87 |
| 19 | Empire Beauty School | Vernon Hills | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,113 | 700 |
Earnings cover federally aided graduates only, as published by College Scorecard.
How to read this. A smaller program can show a high or low figure from just a few graduates, and this earnings figure only ever covers students who received federal aid, so it does not describe every graduate.