Tricoci University of Beauty Culture Rockford — Local services in Rockford Township

Update. Four hours after this review was posted student was expelled, with no explanation. No opportunity to appeal, grieve or even ask about what happens next.

As a parent of a student this is my honest review. Please don't enroll here. Tuition paid in full, 92% GPA & 1,420 hours just to be terminated with no warning. They will make promises and then crush your self esteem and dreams. You will be in complete hell. It's ran like boot camp. This "school" is a joke. It is poorly run by teachers who don't practice professionalism or follow proper education standards. The students are left to figure it out on their own. They are belittled when asking for help on doing a client. They are more concerned about getting money and free labor from their students. They will wait until you are TWO WEEKS from graduation date before terminating you with no warning. You will have in writing via text message you are on track to graduate a week later you will receive a phone call that you're terminated. The gaslighting is insane. They will tell you that you can't appeal and trying to get ahold of anyone is even a bigger joke. They tell you to talk to the campus director, that's a problem when the campus director is the one who is making these unethical and illegal decisions at the school. The corporate office doesn't answer their phone and every mailbox is full so you can't leave a message. They just take 28 thousand dollars, 1,420 hours of free labor and hold your degree hostage. They only care about profits. They offer a discount to any customer who writes a postive review and shows it to the check out girl, who is also a student, they don't even pay for desk services, they use students, again free labor. They will not stand up or defend the students and allow clients to be rude, make derogatory remarks as their main concern is the satisfaction and happiness of the customer. They seem to have forgotten that they are supposed to be a school and the primary reason for them to be open is to teach students, instead , they act like they are a regular salon. The services they provide is expensive and it is obvious that they are just about the bottom dollar instead of actually using the clients for learning experiences. This is basically a front to collect as much money as possible. It's a scam. The students that do graduate have a lot of learning to do. They are not professional, they are thiefs. If you're looking for a school please look ANYWHERE other than here. They only care about the huge tuition cost. They collect money from each student, free labor and offer very little teaching. This "school " has fights physical threats, favoritism and you get sent home over any reason. They have zero communication skills. The name is Tricoci UNIVERSITY but they don't follow proper guidelines for their students. Money and time wasted. The entire experience will leave you broken, broke and empty handed. It's sad they call themselves a school. They don't care about teaching young people a career, they care about profiting off vulnerable young adults who put themselves in student debt for nothing. It's heartless and devastating. Instead of an encouraging environment it's hostile. Half of these students are left to pick up the pieces and dust themselves off after being emotionally and financially drained. I will be getting a lawyer because they refuse to communicate. There is nobody to talk to. The student handbook clearly shows a protocol they are supposed to follow prior to terminating a student. A warning and probation are supposed to be issued. Not a phone call after you left for the day. This place needs accountability and they hold none....

Let me start by saying this isn’t just a review out of frustration. This is me being honest about what really goes on behind the polished image they try to sell. This place is toxic from the top down. The gaslighting is absolutely insane. You can bring receipts actual proof and they’ll still lie to your face. They’ll look you dead in the eye and deny it, twist it, or act like you’re imagining things. There is zero accountability, and it makes you feel like you’re losing your mind. One of the biggest things that blew my mind is how they’ll tell you you’re fine literally reassure you one week that you’re “good on hours,” only to terminate you out of nowhere with no warning. No explanation, no conversation. Just cold, calculated dismissal like you were never worth anything in the first place. It’s not just rude it’s disrespectful and cruel. The favoritism is off the charts. Certain students can break every rule in the book and still get praised, while others can’t even breathe wrong without getting in trouble. It really feels like you’re back in middle school. It’s all cliques and politics. If you’re not one of the “favorites,” they make your life miserable. You’re constantly under a microscope, and nothing is ever good enough.And don’t even get me started on how money-hungry they are. This school uses students for free labor, plain and simple. They disguise it as “real world experience,” but what you’re really doing is running a salon for them while they profit off of you. There are literal civil lawsuits going on about this at cosmetology schools and Tricoci fits the pattern perfectly. They will drain you mentally, emotionally, and financially. And if you think they care about your well being? Think again. There have been students who’ve passed out or gotten sick on the floor, and the staff barely knows what to do. There’s no urgency, no compassion, no real leadership. It’s shocking how unprepared they are to handle actual human situations. And honestly, half the instructors either want to be your best friend and gossip with you, or they go out of their way to make you feel small. There’s no professionalism. They talk down to you, micromanage you, and tear apart any confidence you have left. It’s heartbreaking how many students I saw come in with dreams and passion, only to leave feeling defeated and worthless. And the saddest part is, they don’t even care. If you speak up, they label you as “dramatic” or say you have a bad attitude. If you stay quiet, you get walked all over. You can’t win. I’m writing this because I want people to know the truth. Tricoci University in Rockford is not what it claims to be. It’s not a place of growth or opportunity. It’s a place of manipulation, lies, and emotional damage. They don’t value students they use them. If you’re thinking about enrolling, really take the time to talk to past students. Ask the hard questions. Don’t get swept up in the fake professionalism and empty promises. There are better schools out there that will actually support you, guide you, and respect you as a human being. This place is a joke. And I refuse to stay quiet about until everyone knows how awful this...

I'm getting straight to the point, if you're thinking about attending this school, please think about your decision carefully. There are a lot of things the school lacks in including security, cooperation, organization, dependability, discipline, authority, teamwork, communication, honesty, fairness and professionalism. On the other hand, there are things they don't lack in and should really consider working on such as favoritism, fights, arguments, stealing, conceitedness and hierarchy. There is a very clear divide between the Esthetics and Cosmetology program, which always leads to issues but it's very clear the school thinks highly of the Cosmetology progam as they would always be given a slap on the wrist for any negative behavior. Even within the Esthetics program there is an existing barrier between the day time and night time students, much of which stems from particular teachers that set bad examples by acting unprofessional in front of students. The school as a whole fails to engage in basic human decency, even if some of the issues pertaining to this were addressed yet everyone was quick to dismiss. Some examples include talking loudly on the phone on speaker no matter their location in the school (including bathrooms), sharing personal issues or information out loud or via phone despite the presence of other students, taking things from dispense areas or bathrooms, and speaking disrespectfully among one another or of others. I myself had brought up some issues to the director and she claimed she would be addressing the problems right away but never did. Another issue that obviously has not been resolved is communication with Jordan, one of the financial advisors. Many students have complained of his lack of communication whether through text or email, yet he always claims the same, that he was on vacation and will be available soon. The director had sent an email to the higher ups about the issue but it continued to persist. As to why he's still allowed to keep his position is unclear to me. Some students at the school were engaging in academic dishonesty which always ended the same: the students continued to attend school and graduated. That alone says a lot about what the school prioritizes. And finally, the required student kits for the programs and their prices are ridiculous, especially with the amount of materials that are purchased but never used throughout the entirety of your program. It seems unfair that we are required to purchase these kits and pay so much despite the tools and materials that end up sitting in our lockers until the end of the program. I could go into great detail of everything that happened at this school, but I'm sure this will suffice and open up people's eyes when deciding whether to apply here or not. Nonetheless, there are only a few teachers and staff that deserve to keep their positions as they truly strive to help their students in any way possible to accomplish their goals and fulfill their dreams, so for that I am eternally grateful and applaud them for their hard work despite the many challenges they face along with...