Career Training Path › Illinois › City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Chicago, Illinois · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 1145 W Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL 60640 · Phone: (773) 907-4000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Harry S Truman College is a public trade and career school in Chicago, IL offering cosmetology, auto mechanic, and barber programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Truman College's completion rate is 31.8%, below the Illinois state average of 58.4%; median graduate debt is $6,997 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $36,484, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Truman College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 19.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $31,200 | $34,040 | $41,110 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $34,190 | $49,170 | $73,640 |
| Barbers | $31,460 | $65,430 | $71,930 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Illinois (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 41 | $11,858 | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 20 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | $11,858 | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Harry S Truman College, part of City Colleges of Chicago, is a public campus located in Chicago, Illinois. It participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), and it is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its nursing programs also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The campus awards trade credentials across six program families, most commonly in cosmetology schools, auto mechanic schools, and barber schools.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 31.8%, which is below the Illinois state average of 58.4%. Among trade program completers, the median debt of graduates is $6,997, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $36,484. About 19.0% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With 94 trade completers out of an undergraduate enrollment of 2,505 in a large-city setting, Truman College's trade offerings are geared toward short, hands-on programs in cosmetology, auto repair, and barbering rather than longer associate-degree tracks. This may suit students seeking a quicker path into a skilled trade, though the below-average completion rate is worth weighing against your own timeline and support needs. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and review full outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, and confirm program specifics with the school before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Truman College offers six trade program families, most notably cosmetology schools (45 completers), auto mechanic schools (45), and barber schools (4).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Truman College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and its nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 31.8%, which is below the Illinois state average of 58.4%, according to federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $6,997, per federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $36,484, per federal Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (773) 907-4000 or via its website for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Truman College is a public institution, part of City Colleges of Chicago, which typically means lower published tuition rates than for-profit schools and public accountability.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the available data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration for cosmetology, auto mechanic, or barber training.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission and review detailed outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at the provided link.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The program families listed (cosmetology, auto mechanics, barbering) are typically shorter, hands-on trade programs, which may suit career changers, though specific scheduling and format details are not reported here.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school or your state licensing board for specifics on cosmetology, auto mechanic, or barber licensure.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Truman College at (773) 907-4000 or visit its website at https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/truman/Pages/default.aspx for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; use the College Scorecard link to search and compare similar trade programs in the Chicago area.
Other trade and career schools in Chicago, IL
- City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago, IL · 31% completion
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NWChicago, IL · 0.0% completion
- Paul Mitchell the School-ChicagoChicago, IL · 60% completion
- City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeChicago, IL · 21% completion
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NEChicago, IL · 53% completion
- Aveda Institute-ChicagoChicago, IL · 78% completion
- Larry's Barber CollegeChicago, IL · 63% completion
- Cannella School of Hair Design-ChicagoChicago, IL · 53% completion
See all trade and career schools in Illinois or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.