Gem City College

What Gem City College does

Gem City College is a private vocational training institution headquartered at 700 State Street in Quincy, Illinois, operating continuously since 1870. The college delivers two principal program verticals: a Horology School encompassing watchmaking and repair, clock repair, and jewelry design/diamond setting, and a Cosmetology program (including a Cosmetology Teacher Training track) requiring 1500 clock hours and 1000 clock hours respectively for completion. The underlying instructional model is bench-based, hands-on training with individualized instruction, a self-paced weekly enrollment cadence (new students begin each Monday), and a student-run cosmetology clinic serving real paying customers under faculty supervision.

The institution's business model centers on tuition revenue from these vocational programs, supplemented by a modest publishing arm (College Press) that sells specialized reference books on ornamental designs, monograms, lettering, and heraldic engravings priced at $25.95–$32.95 plus postage. GTM is direct-to-consumer: prospective students apply online or contact the college by phone/email, with a $100 registration fee and financial aid pathways including Pell Grants, federal Direct Loans, VA benefits (Post 9/11 GI Bill), and state vocational rehabilitation funds. The college is approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (for cosmetology), and accredited nationally by the Council on Occupational Education. It is independently operated with no disclosed parent company, venture capital, or private equity ownership. Leadership consists of President Russell H. Hagenah. The college addresses structurally favorable labor shortages in trained watchmakers, clock repair technicians, jewelry craftsmen, and qualified cosmetology teachers, with demand for graduates reported to exceed supply.

Name

Gem City College

Legal name

Gem City College

Website

https://gemcitycollege.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Gem City College is a private vocational institution in Quincy, Illinois, founded in 1870, offering hands-on training programs in horology (watchmaking, clock repair, jewelry design) and cosmetology, plus a small publishing arm for craft reference books.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cosmetology Schools & Programs (HSALANAA)

Keywords

• Vocational training
• Cosmetology education
• Horology training
• Watchmaking school
• Beauty school

Headquarters

HQ city

Quincy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Cosmetology Program: Tuition-based vocational training program requiring 1500 clock hours or 75 Quarter hours of credit. Students pay registration fees ($100) and tuition for the program.
2. Tuition - Cosmetology Teacher Training: Program for licensed cosmetologists requiring 1000 clock hours or 50 Quarter Credit Hours to complete instructor certification.
3. Book Sales - College Press: Sale of reference books on ornamental designs, monograms, lettering, and heraldic engravings. Books priced at $25.95-$32.95 plus $10 postage and handling per book.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Gem City College is a private vocational institution that delivers clock-hour-based, hands-on training programs in Cosmetology (1500 clock hours) and Cosmetology Teacher Training (1000 clock hours), as well as Horology programs covering Watchmaking & Repair, Clock Repair, and Jewelry Diamond Setting & Design, all taught at individualized benches on the Quincy, Illinois campus. The college also generates ancillary revenue through College Press, a publishing imprint that sells reference books on ornamental designs, monograms, lettering, and heraldic engravings authored by J.M. Bergling.

Product overview

Gem City College is a vocational training institution offering two primary program areas: Cosmetology (beauty school) and Horology (watchmaking, clock repair, and jewelry design). The Cosmetology division includes a general Cosmetology program and a Cosmetology Teacher Training program for licensed stylists. The Horology School encompasses three specialized sub-programs: Watchmaking and Repair, Clock Repair, and Jewelry Diamond Setting and Design. The college also operates College Press, which publishes and sells reference books on design, lettering, and heraldic engravings. Programs are approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cosmetology Program
• Cosmetology Teacher Training
• Horology School
• Watchmaking and Repair School
• Clock Repair School
• Jewelry Diamond Setting and Design
• College Press Publications

Quantifiable outcome

• More positions available than qualified craftsmen to fill them
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/90065605255

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gem City College