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Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois

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2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

36 Colleges
$10,427 Avg Tuition & Fees*

Finding the Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate School for You

Personal & Culinary Services is one of the most popular subjects to study in Illinois. With 4,725 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022, it ranked 2nd out of all the majors we track in the state.

There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 36 schools in Illinois to see which basic certificate programs offered the best value experiences for personal & culinary services students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Colleges.

Top 25 Best Illinois Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking Less Than 1 Year in Personal & Culinary Services

#1

Lake Land College

Mattoon, IL

Our 2023 rankings named Lake Land College the best value school in Illinois for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Lake Land College is a small public school located in the distant town of Mattoon.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Lake Land College are $8,104 a year.

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#2

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, IL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Joliet Junior College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Joliet Junior College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Joliet.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Joliet Junior College are $12,750 a year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Joliet Junior College Report

The excellent basic certificate programs at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Illinois. Kennedy-King College is a small public school located in the large city of Chicago.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Kennedy-King College are $11,520 a year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College Report

Out of the 36 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Chicago, Harry S Truman College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Harry S Truman College are $11,520 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College

Out of the 36 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Hair Professionals Career College is a great value for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the suburb of Sycamore, Hair Professionals Career College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Hair Professionals Career College

Out of the 36 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NE landed the # 5 spot on the list. Tricoci CNE is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Peoria. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Located in the midsize city of Peoria, Tricoci PEO is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means The University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology is a great value for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large suburb of Downers Grove, The University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at The University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology Report

#5

G Skin & Beauty Institute

Schaumburg, IL

Out of the 36 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, G Skin & Beauty Institute landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the city of Schaumburg, G Skin and Beauty Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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The excellent basic certificate programs at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Rockford, Tricoci RFD is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford

The excellent basic certificate programs at Paul Mitchell the School Lombard helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Illinois. Paul Mitchell the School Lombard is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Lombard.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Paul Mitchell the School Lombard

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview is a great value for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the suburb of Bridgeview, Tricoci BRV is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview

Out of the 36 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the midsize city of Springfield, University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Paul Mitchell the School Bradley. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Paul Mitchell the School Bradley is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Tinley Park.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Paul Mitchell the School Bradley

#5

Capri Beauty College

New Lenox, IL

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Capri Beauty College is a great value for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Capri Beauty College is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of New Lenox.

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The excellent basic certificate programs at Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Illinois. Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the town of Sterling.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Located in the large suburb of Libertyville, Tricoci LBV is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville

#5

Cosmetology & Spa Academy

Crystal Lake, IL

Out of the 36 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Cosmetology & Spa Academy landed the # 5 spot on the list. Cosmetology & Spa Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Crystal Lake.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Cosmetology & Spa Academy

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Empire Beauty School-Stone Park. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Empire Beauty School-Stone Park is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Stone Park.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Empire Beauty School-Stone Park

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Danville. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Tricoci Danville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Urbana.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Danville

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Innovations Design Academy. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Innovations Design Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the distant town of Canton.

Read More…

Out of the 36 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Hair Professionals School of Cosmetology landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Oswego, Hair Professionals School of Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Hair Professionals School of Cosmetology Report

Out of the 36 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW landed the # 5 spot on the list. Tricoci CNW is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW Report

#5

Trenz Beauty Academy

Calumet City, IL

The excellent basic certificate programs at Trenz Beauty Academy helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Illinois. Trenz Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Calumet City.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Trenz Beauty Academy

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois award.

Rank College Location

Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Colleges in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Indiana 2,161
Michigan 3,211
Wisconsin 1,669
Ohio 3,799

Personal & Culinary Services Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Cosmetology 124,611
Culinary Arts 22,075
Funeral & Mortuary Science 2,186
Casino Operations and Services 385
Other Personal & Culinary Services 95

Related Major Annual Graduates
Mechanic & Repair Technologies 105,741
Precision Production 55,411
Construction Trades 40,802
Transportation & Materials Moving 33,306

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 36 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Army Europe Images.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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