Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills

Vernon Hills, IL · Private for-profit · Certificate · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

a smaller institution with 57 students in Vernon Hills, IL.

Program Analysis

Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills's Cosmetology program produces graduates earning $17,113/yr — within striking distance of the $17,289 national average for this trade.

Some AI exposure exists in Cosmetology's career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 25% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $13,583 represents roughly 10 months of the $17,113 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #813 of 1,095 Cosmetology programs, Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $17,113 to $22,594 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Cosmetology offers 5 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

42 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
39
Low End
42
Score
43
High End
Earnings $17,113/yr (-1% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (145,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$239K
7.2% annual growth
Viable Career Paths
8 of 8
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Median Debt at Graduation
$13,583
9.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$22,594
32% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Cosmetology graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Personal service managers, all other $61,340 +6.5% 48%
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance $50,280 +8.1% 66%
First-line supervisors of personal service workers $47,080 +6.7% 59%
Personal service managers, all other
$61,340
+6.5% growth 48% AI-proof
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
$50,280
+8.1% growth 66% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of personal service workers
$47,080
+6.7% growth 59% AI-proof

View all 8 career paths with full salary data →

Cosmetology Career Guide

Explore what Cosmetology graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 1095 programs nationwide.

Read the full Cosmetology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Cosmetology Overview

Cosmetology at Other Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills's Cosmetology program score?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Cosmetology. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Cosmetology program at Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills?
If Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills's tuition gives you pause, consider that 5 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Cosmetology. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
How many job openings are there for Cosmetology graduates?
The career paths mapped to Cosmetology have roughly 145,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →