Larry's Barber College-Joliet

The academic offering is intensely concentrated, mirroring the school's singular vocational purpose. It offers just two program tracks: a Barbering/Barber program and a Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor program. Degree completion data shows Barbering is the dominant path, with 33 degrees awarded, compared to 2 for the Instructor track. The curriculum is built around clock-hour requirements: 1,500 hours for the Barber program and 1,000 hours for the Barber Instructor program. The school catalog emphasizes a structured evaluation system to ensure students meet both attendance and academic progress requirements. There is a stated institutional value on 'equal educational opportunities for all students, including students with disabilities.' Instruction is hands-on and practical, aimed directly at licensure and career readiness in the barbering field.

Student life revolves around the craft and the college's mission-driven community. The institution's stated mission is 'to provide the community with a positive, professional atmosphere for barber training and career development.' This isn't a residential campus with clubs and sports; the culture is built in the shop and classroom. The college actively serves military veterans, with all campuses accepting the G.I. Bill. A key part of its identity, highlighted in external media, is its social role: 'Cutting hair and building an empire; one South Side barber is paving the way to keep young men out of the system and into a better life.' This suggests a student body and institutional ethos focused on practical skill acquisition as a means of personal and economic empowerment. The small size (22 total students) fosters a close-knit, workshop-like environment.

Outcomes data for this specialized trade school points to strong completion rates and early-career earnings. The reported graduation rate is a robust 77.1%. For graduates, the median earnings one year after graduation are $36,427. This figure provides a concrete benchmark for the earning potential of barbering program completers shortly after entering the workforce. The high graduation rate suggests the program's structure and support are effective in seeing students through to completion of their required hours.

Costs are presented as straightforward program tuition, and financial aid is widely utilized. Tuition is set at $18,540.00 for the 1,500-hour Barber program and $9,140.00 for the 1,000-hour Barber Instructor program (for instructors with under 3 years of experience). The school provides a net priceNet priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator for estimating final costs after aid. Crucially, 100% of students receive some form of grant aid, with the average grant amount being $6,554. Financial aid is available to those who qualify and 'may be in the form of a federal Pell grant or student loans.' The school's catalog explicitly notes, 'If you decide not to take out the student loan, you will be required to pay the difference.' This indicates that while grant aid is universal, loans are a standard part of the financial aid package for many students, and there is no indication of a 'no-loan' financial aid policy.

Larry's Barber College-Joliet stands out for its unwavering, no-pretense focus on a single trade and its explicit social mission. It is not trying to be a comprehensive college. Its 100% acceptance rateAcceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. and open requirements make it an accessible on-ramp. Its 77% graduation rate and ~$36k early-career earnings demonstrate effective training for a specific skilled profession. But what truly defines it is the ethos captured in its mission statement and external profiles: it's a place built on the belief that mastering a tangible skill like barbering can be a foundational tool for stability, entrepreneurship, and positive community impact. The founder's vision of 'paving the way to keep young men out of the system and into a better life' frames education here not just as career training, but as a form of community investment and empowerment.