Career Training Path › Illinois › First Institute of Travel, Inc.
First Institute of Travel, Inc.
Crystal Lake, Illinois · Private for-profit career college · Training programs available:
Address: 790 McHenry Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 · Phone: (815) 459-3500 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
First Institute of Travel, Inc. is a private for-profit trade school in Crystal Lake, IL offering medical assistant, dental assistant, and massage therapy programs, accredited by ACCET.
First Institute of Travel had a 72.4% completion rate versus a 58.4% state average, with median graduate debt of $9,500 and median earnings of $36,196 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance at First Institute of Travel, Inc. is $24,945, federal financial aid including FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here, and 58.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $36,400 | $46,090 | $49,460 |
| Dental assistants | $37,360 | $48,610 | $56,860 |
| Massage therapists | $33,770 | $60,490 | $77,550 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 99 | $29,394 | $26,411 | $9,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 25 | $24,253 | $28,133 | $9,500 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 21 | not reported | $25,774 | 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
First Institute of Travel, Inc. is a private for-profit trade school located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, a large suburb. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training and participates in federal Title IV financial aid programs, meaning students can use FAFSA-based aid such as Pell Grants to help pay for enrollment. The campus's most-awarded programs are medical assistant programs, dental assistant schools, and massage therapy schools, with medical assistant training representing the largest share of completions.
Federal data show a completion rate of 72.4%, which is above the Illinois state average of 58.4%. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $9,500, and median earnings ten years after entry were reported at $36,196. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $24,945, and 58.0% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
This campus may suit students seeking shorter, career-focused training in medical, dental, or massage therapy fields rather than a traditional multi-year degree; program length details themselves are not reported for this campus in federal data. Career changers should confirm program lengths and schedules directly with the school. Prospective students can verify accreditation status and outcome data independently through the school's accreditor and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
First Institute of Travel offers medical assistant programs, dental assistant schools, and massage therapy schools, with medical assistant training being the largest program by completions.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), and its accreditation status is listed as Accredited.
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 72.4%, which is above the Illinois state average of 58.4%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500 according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $36,196.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is listed at $24,945.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
First Institute of Travel is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition pricing and institutional funding sources compared to public or non-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (815) 459-3500 or visit its website to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through ACCET and review federal outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?145099.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The school's program offerings in medical assistant, dental assistant, and massage therapy fields suggest career-focused training, but specific fit for career changers, including schedule flexibility, is not reported in federal data and should be confirmed with the school directly.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to learn about certification pathways for its programs.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach First Institute of Travel, Inc. by phone at (815) 459-3500 or through its website at https://www.firstinstitute.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in federal data for this campus; use the College Scorecard link to look up nearby institutions offering similar programs.
Other trade and career schools in Crystal Lake, IL
- McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake, IL · 37% completion
- Cosmetology & Spa AcademyCrystal Lake, IL · 70% completion
- Eagle Training ServicesCrystal Lake, IL
- College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL · 37% completion
- William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine, IL · 48% completion
- Oakton CollegeDes Plaines, IL · 37% completion
- Estelle Medical AcademySkokie, IL · 86% completion
- State Career CollegeGurnee, IL · 74% 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.