Looking for the best beauty schools in Chicago? They’re all here, with overviews, advantages, career prospects, and average costs.
Paul Mitchell The School Chicago
Overview
Students are referred to as Future Professionals at Paul Mitchell The School. Through a three-level program, students are prepared for successful careers in the beauty industry. The three levels are called CORE, ADAPTIVE, and CREATIVE. These levels take students from introductory knowledge to preparation for the professional world. Much of student learning is comprised of hands-on learning in a salon.
Each student leaves the program prepared for exams as well as a successful life in the professional world. Through the three-level system, students are also able to reach their own personal goals.
Advantages
Interested students can participate in an intensive study program called PHASE TWO. This program challenges students to their highest performance level. Conditions that mimic salon reality are combined with advanced cosmetology training. Students are truly prepared for the future after going through this program.
Future Professionals receive a kit of cosmetology essentials and an iPad when they begin classes. These tools serve them well throughout their studies, especially when they move into hands-on training.
Career Prospects
Students are completely prepared for professional life after completing the three-level cosmetology program and additional PHASE TWO program. Many alumni of Paul Mitchell The School have had extremely successful careers, and it only makes sense that current students and graduates will have prosperous careers as well.
Average Cost
The cost for the cosmetology program is $21,925 total.
G Skin and Beauty Institute
Overview
According to the school, “Cosmetology is our passion, a passion that G Skin and Beauty Institute will empower you to embrace.” A European-influenced curriculum aid students in the natural development of cosmetology skills.
Students will be licensed in all facets of the beauty industry, and their knowledge will match their hands-on skills in every area. Students will even learn how to make their own makeup with natural ingredients.
Advantages
Students will learn every color technique available. This is knowledge that will position them at a point to succeed in the industry. In addition, an ingredient-based curriculum, or “curriculum that highlights the essence of knowing what you need for each hair type and condition,” prepares students for any product they many encounter in the future.
A G Beauty School email makes open communication with instructors easy and quick. Students also have access to videos, class notes, powerpoints, and YouTube videos to enhance classes and make learning easier and more flexible.
Career Prospects
A student salon and business skills classes give students the confidence they need to move forward in the industry. Says G Skin and Beauty Institute, “Be a salon professional, salon owner, salon manager or education director for a major product line. Your future opportunities are endless. Step through the doors today with G Skin and Beauty Institute and we will lead you there!”
Average Cost
The average cost of the cosmetology program is $18,099.
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture
Overview
Tricoci University has transformed the approach to beauty education. It has invested in upscale facilities that rival high-end salons, developed an advanced curriculum that better prepares students for career success, and uses new methods to teach students how to build lasting client relationships.
The teaching approach at Tricoci centers around developing graduates that can surpass industry expectations and make contributions in areas that are important to employers. Tricoci offers the most advanced in facilities, equipment, and educational materials to cultivate an engaging learning experience.
Advantages
Called “[t]he most current, technically precise and versatile education available in the cosmetology training field today,” the school delivers most of its curriculum on an iPad as part of a new student kit.
Education is also supported through the use of hands-on experience, lectures, visual and practical presentations, guest artists, demonstrations, and videos. Students’ education is monitored through practical and written examinations to ensure that students are well-versed and prepared for the state board examinations.
Career Prospects
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture’s cosmetology program will prepare students for a wide variety of cosmetology careers. These include hairdresser, hair colorist, cosmetologist, stylist, nail technician, makeup artist, and esthetician.
Average Cost
The full cost of the cosmetology program at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture is $22,930.
Niles School of Cosmetology
Overview
The Niles School of Cosmetology was founded in 1975 and is considered a top beauty school in Chicago. Licensed instructors are skilled and experienced, offering students the best training available at an affordable price.
The primary goal of the Niles School of Cosmetology is to prepare students for licensing examinations in cosmetology, and also to place students in careers in the fields of cosmetology and cosmetology education.
Advantages
Full-time and part-time classes, as well as day and night classes, are available to accommodate any student’s busy schedule. General theory and practice classes give students a good foundation to build upon, while a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience give students a feel for their future careers in the cosmetology world.
Shop management, sanitation, and personal relations are also covered. Additionally, students get to choose electives that will best serve their futures.
Career Prospects
Hands-on experience and business-related classes prepare students for life as a professional in the beauty industry.
Average Cost
$11,000 is the total cost for the cosmetology program at the Niles School of Cosmetology.
Make Up First
Overview
Founded in 2006, Make Up First School is a private, vocational school. It is approved under the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Students get to train using several pro products, and they are also eligible for various students discounts from brands such as Make Up For Ever, Kryolan, Kett Cosmetics, and others.
Students of Make Up First are eligible to participate in the MAC PRO student program, and the school is nationally recognized as the premier makeup artistry program in Chicago. Special events include workshops on holiday makeup as well as many guest speakers.
Advantages
Class sizes are small for optimal learning. The school offers extensive hands-on studio time so students are able to completely perfect techniques. Students learn by applying rather than just listening, and they have the opportunity to build and replenish their makeup artist kit from high-quality, student-discounted makeup artist cosmetics.
Each of the school’s instructors is a professional currently working in the industry. Instructors include artists from the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Ravinia, the Goodman Theater, board-certified dermatologists, photographers, media makeup artists, Broadway productions, and more. Their first-hand professional knowledge of the industry is passed directly to students.
Career Prospects
Careers courses teach necessary information for students starting careers as a makeup artist. Students will also stay in touch with the makeup artist community by staying connected with Make Up First through networking and social media. Jobs that are presented to and offered by the school are frequently posted and offered to Make Up First students and graduates.
Douglas J Aveda Institute
Overview
The Aveda Institute has an exclusive curriculum and employs exceptional instructors. It connects with the most successful and sustainable network on salon professionals in the industry.
The school strives to build up its students both as individuals and as professionals. Because of this, an important goal at Aveda is cultivating each student’s unique talents while mastering technical skills.
Aveda has raised over $1 million for different charities, giving back to the community countless times, with a particular focus on the environment.
Advantages
The school’s location in Chicago gives students a chance to experience a diverse clientele in a trendy neighborhood–they’ll even be able to do some networking! Students are also exposed to the typical salon environment and have the opportunity to work in it under direct supervision to ensure correct technique.
Career paths after graduating from the Douglas J Aveda Institute are vast and varies. A student who preferred the salon environment would receive hands-on experience in the industry, while a student who preferred fashion could work on runway shows through the connections Aveda has.
Career Prospects
Aveda provides great opportunities for employment due to its wide network in the industry.
Average Cost
The cosmetology program costs $22,975 along with an additional $2400 for books and supplies.
Elegante School of Beauty
Overview
“Life’s style begins with a superior education,” says the school’s motto. With a focus on a detailed education, the Elegante School of Beauty has a mission to provide the best education for the community and future industry professionals. The school has a commitment to incorporating the art of design with the science of cosmetology, giving students the freedom to be creative while mastering technical skills.
Advantages
The school strives to provide students with the technical expertise, discipline of the trade, professionalism, and soft skills necessary to succeed in the cosmetology world. A student salon offering dozens of services gives students a chance to practice what they’ve learned on real clients while also networking and building a clientele that will follow them after graduation.
Career Prospects
When starting classes at the Elegante School of Beauty, students are launching their career in the cosmetology field. After building up a collection of repeat clients in the student salon, students will be prepared to take on the industry.
The University of Aesthetics and Cosmetology
Overview
The mission of the University of Aesthetics and Cosmetology is simple: educate, graduate, get students licensed, and help them become employable. The culture is made to inspire personal and professional development.
Other goals of the school include providing an up-to-date, relevant education, providing a learning environment, facilitating understanding through regular assessment, enabling student to focus their energies and become masters of their skills, helping students to pace themselves to complete assignments on time, providing career development strategies to prepare students for employment, and to help all students realize their true potential.
Advantages
Classes start every eight weeks, so prospective students don’t have to wait long to enroll. The cosmetology program covers many different topics, including haircutting, hair coloring, hairdressing, facials, makeup, nail technology, salon management, state regulations, sanitation and safety procedures, and many more.
Career Prospects
Because such a large focus is on helping students becoming employable and teaching students business skills, students will leave the university prepared for work in the cosmetology field. Additionally, hours of practice in the student salon will give students the opportunity to build up a clientele and network with potential future clients.
Average Cost
$19,250 is the total cost for the cosmetology program at the University of Aesthetics and Cosmetology.
Lena’s Artistic Beauty College
Overview
The college has been helping students to fulfill their cosmetology dreams for over 50 years! At Lena’s Artistic Beauty College, preparing students for the state board exam is the top priority.
Advantages
Lena’s Artistic Beauty College has one of the highest pass rates for board exams in the city. A comfortable learning environment is provided, and instructors are caring and encourage students to think outside the box. Classroom education and hands-on salon hours are offered.
Classes are small and individualized. A high success rate sets Lena’s apart from many other cosmetology schools. The lead teacher is even backed by 18 years of experience! Instructors strive to provide students with the latest techniques and trends in the field so they’ll be ready for professional life after graduation.
Career Prospects
The college works with many local businesses and salons to provide students with internship opportunities as well as job placement. Additionally, hands-on time in the student salon gives students a chance to interact with clients and build up their own clientele.
Trenz Beauty Academy
Overview
Trenz Beauty Academy is “a school of excellence, where we strive to become successful!”
Advantages
The academy is multi-cultural and makes learning fun and exciting. It’s a specialty school that teaches many different skills other beauty schools don’t, such as hair weaving, waxing, and sew-in extensions.
The teachers at Trenz Beauty Academy learn to teach interactive theory and practical daily. They also write effective lesson plans and their main goal is to understand the students’ needs. Above all, they aim to make learning fun and exciting!
Career Prospects
Trenz teaches students how to market and promote themselves, a valuable skill to have in the professional world. Business skills are introduced early on in the cosmetology program.
Average Cost
The total cost for the cosmetology program at Trenz Beauty Academy is $16,900.