Gem City College

700 State St
Quincy, IL 62301
Top Ranked (2025): View Rankings
  • Quincy Beauty Academy has been in continuous operation since 1945, training students in the skills of cosmetology. It became a Division of Gem City College on January 1, 1975.

School Highlights

Gem City College serves 49 students (100% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 7:1 is lower than the state community college average of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 53%.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 49 students
  • Acceptance Rate: 75%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 7:1
  • Minority enrollment: 16%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Gem City College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Illinois for:

Category
Attribute
Completion Rates

School Overview

The teacher population of 7 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Gem City College
(IL) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or nondegree-granting)
Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Nontraditional
Institution Level
Less than 2 years (below associate)
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Private for-profit
Public
Total Faculty
7 staff
239 staff
Number of Programs Offered
5
4
School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of Gem City College has grown by 88% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 7:1 has increased from 4:1 over five years.
The Gem City College diversity score of 0.27 is less than the state average of 0.69. The school's diversity has grown by 251% over five years.
Total Enrollment
49 students
3,838 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
7:1
21:1
# Full-Time Students
49 students
1,091 students
# Part-Time Students
n/a
2,747 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
49 students
328 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
49 students
1,091 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
43 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
n/a
3,310 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
18 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
132 students
% Asian
6%
6%
% Hispanic
n/a
26%
% Black
8%
13%
% White
84%
47%
% Hawaiian
2%
n/a
% Two or more races
n/a
3%
% Non Resident races
n/a
1%
% Unknown races
n/a
4%
Diversity Score
0.27
0.69
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
75%
40%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
55%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$19,700
$31,800

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
63%
81%
Median Debt for Graduates
$9,651
$8,029
Median Debt for Dropouts
$4,750
$3,500
Acceptance Rate
75%
89%
SAT Reading
n/a
390
SAT Math
n/a
360
SAT Writing
n/a
355
ACT Composite
n/a
17
ACT English
n/a
17
ACT Math
n/a
17
Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • Your training at Quincy Beauty Academy is merely the beginning to a whole lifetime of learning. This basic training can be expanded upon to allow you to have many different careers - all in the cosmetology profession. Excellence - it's a well-known tradition at Gem City College School of Horology. Recommendations by master jewelers across the country attest to Gem City's reputation as one of the best training centers available for learning the fine art of watchmaking, clock repair, engraving and jewelry design and repair. We offer training that can give you immediate recognition as a qualified craftsman with skills that are in great demand! Each lesson in the GCC home study program is made up on text material, a self-check test and a practical job assignment. When students have completed a job assignment, they return it to the school for correction, evaluation, and comments by the instructor. Thus, the instructor can spot both strengths and areas in which more work is needed while the student progresses through the training. Instructors will suggest ways for the students to overcome difficulties and answer any questions about the work. Students receive careful, personal attention from their instructor. The instructors engaged in the GCC Home Study Program are experts in their fields. The classroom teaching experience makes them well acquainted with the types of problems commonly encountered by beginning students. Also they have had experience working in their own jewelry and watch repair businesses, so they know the practical problems which face professional jewelers. Specially constructed carousel stations provided attractive working space for the advanced students. Those in the beginning stages of study have access to the facilities. Instruction is implemented by audio-visual aids, and new techniques allow an up-to-date curriculum.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate of Gem City College?
The acceptance rate of Gem City College is 75%, which is lower than the state average of 89%.
What is Gem City College's ranking?
Gem City College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Illinois for: Highest completion rates.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 49 students
  • Acceptance Rate: 75%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 7:1
  • Minority enrollment: 16%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

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Did You Know?

For Illinois public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $7,875 per year for in-state students and $10,847 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $14,261 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Illinois is 71%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Illinois community colleges have a diversity score of 0.69, which is lower than the national average of 0.74. The most diverse community college in Illinois is Midwestern Career College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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