Career Training Path › Pennsylvania › American Barber and Beauty Academy
American Barber and Beauty Academy
Reading, Pennsylvania · Private for-profit career school
Address: 733 Lancaster Avenue, Reading, PA 19607 · Phone: (610) 927-5664 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
American Barber and Beauty Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Reading, Pennsylvania offering esthetician, cosmetology, and barber programs, accredited by NACCAS.
American Barber and Beauty Academy has an 88.1% completion rate, above the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2%, with graduates carrying a median debt of $11,583, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for American Barber and Beauty Academy; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, can be used here, with 42.0% of students receiving Pell.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare specialists | $22,870 | $43,620 | $58,970 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,700 | $36,790 | $55,360 |
| Barbers | $30,410 | $36,920 | $39,030 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Pennsylvania (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, 300–899 hours | 75 | not reported | not reported | $11,346 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 51 | not reported | not reported | $11,346 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | $11,346 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | $11,346 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | $11,346 |
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
American Barber and Beauty Academy is a private for-profit trade school located in Reading, Pennsylvania. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and students here can use federal financial aid (Title IV) toward their programs. The school's most-awarded credentials are in esthetician programs (75 completions), cosmetology (54 completions), and barber training (15 completions), across five total program offerings.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 88.1%, which is above the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $11,583. Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 42.0% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
This campus, situated in a small city, may suit students seeking focused, hands-on training in personal care trades rather than a multi-year associate degree path; the specific length of each program is not reported for this campus in federal data. Prospective students should verify accreditation status and outcome data directly through the College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?490258) or by contacting the school at (610) 927-5664 or americanbarberbeauty.com before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
American Barber and Beauty Academy offers esthetician, cosmetology, and barber programs, totaling five program offerings, with esthetician (75 completers) and cosmetology (54 completers) being the most awarded.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and its accreditation status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, the school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, and 42.0% of its students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 88.1%, which is above the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $11,583 per federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school or check the College Scorecard link for updates.
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 at (610) 927-5664 for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
It is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition pricing and financial aid terms compared to public or non-profit institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; prospective students should contact the school directly for schedule details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through NACCAS and review federal outcome data via the College Scorecard at collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?490258.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The school offers focused personal-care trade programs, but specific fit for career changers depends on program length and schedule, which is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school to discuss options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements for cosmetology, esthetics, and barbering vary by state and are not detailed in the available federal data; contact the school or Pennsylvania's licensing board for specifics.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach American Barber and Beauty Academy at (610) 927-5664 or through its website, americanbarberbeauty.com.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included in this listing; use the College Scorecard link to research and compare other cosmetology and barber schools in the area.
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.