Cosmetology Schools in the Chicago area

Cosmetology Schools in the Chicago area at a glance

Open to the public

45 programs: 43 at colleges and schools (IPEDS), 2 known only from the WIOA list

Distance from Chicago

11 within 10 miles; nearest 4.6 miles, farthest 46.2 miles

Listed program cost

39 of 45 list one: $12,475 to $24,075, middle $19,900 (IPEDS)

Program length

39 colleges list a length: 10 months to 16 months (IPEDS)

Length on the WIOA list

2 listed programs give weeks: 16 to 72 weeks full time

Completions, 2023-24

1,279 cosmetology awards at the 41 colleges that reported any (IPEDS)

On the WIOA list

2 of 45 on Illinois's eligible training list (DOL file, June 30, 2025)

Pay here

$34,260 median for hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists ($16.47 an hour); 10th to 90th percentile $31,200 to $58,960; 12,000 employed in the metro area; Illinois median $34,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025)

Cosmetology programs, nearest to Chicago first

• College programs, cost and completions: IPEDS complete data files, 2024-25 collection, read October 8, 2026.
• WIOA list: DOL TrainingProviderResults.gov program file (ETA-9171), read October 8, 2026.
• Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, read October 8, 2026.

How metro areas and miles are measured

Paying for training

• WIOA in Illinois: 3,233 programs are on the state's list in the U.S. DOL file, 6 of them Cosmetology.
• Pell Grants for short programs
• Workforce Pell
• GI Bill

Other Illinois metro areas

• Springfield area4 programs