Career Training Path › Florida › Ruben's Five Star Academy
Ruben's Five Star Academy
Lake Wales, Florida · Private for-profit career school
Address: 820 Eagle Ridge Dr suite 346, Lake Wales, FL 33859 · Phone: (863) 241-0287 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Jun 2025 · Warning · Council on Occupational Education; Jul 2025 · Removal of Show Cause Status. 3 sanction actions in the window.
Ruben's Five Star Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Lake Wales, FL offering barber and nail technician programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Ruben's Five Star Academy has a 59.1% completion rate, below the Florida state average of 70.5%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt and 10-year earnings are not reported for this campus.
Annual cost of attendance at Ruben's Five Star Academy is $26,718, and the school participates in federal Title IV aid programs. About 70.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbers | $31,000 | $49,410 | $59,240 |
| Manicurists and pedicurists | $28,730 | $37,840 | $48,260 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Florida (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, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, under 300 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | 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
Ruben's Five Star Academy is a private for-profit trade school located in Lake Wales, Florida, in a large suburb setting. The campus is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, meaning students may use FAFSA-based aid such as Pell Grants to help cover costs. Its programs are concentrated in personal care trades, with the largest enrollments in barber schools (15 students) and nail technician schools (3 students), across 3 total program offerings.
Federal data show a completion rate of 59.1%, which falls below the Florida state average of 70.5%. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data, and median earnings 10 years after entry is also not reported for this campus in federal data. The annual cost of attendance is listed at $26,718. About 70.3% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based federal aid.
With small program cohorts (18 total trade completers reported) and a focus on barbering and nail technology, this campus may suit students seeking short, hands-on career-training programs rather than multi-year associate degrees. Adults considering a career change should confirm current program length, schedule, and licensing requirements directly with the school, since these details are not present in the data reviewed. Prospective students can verify accreditation status and outcomes through the Council on Occupational Education and by reviewing the school's profile on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Ruben's Five Star Academy offers barber schools (15 students) and nail technician schools (3 students), totaling 3 programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its accreditation status is listed as Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal student aid programs, so FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 59.1%, which is below the Florida state average of 70.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (863) 241-0287 or check the College Scorecard link for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The reported annual cost of attendance is $26,718.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Ruben's Five Star Academy is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition pricing and institutional funding structure compared to public or non-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly at (863) 241-0287 or via its website for schedule details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education and review federal outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?496052.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program schedules or format, so fit for career changers cannot be confirmed from federal data alone; contact the school to discuss options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in the data provided; contact the school or Florida's licensing board for barbering and nail technology requirements.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Ruben's Five Star Academy at (863) 241-0287 or through its website, https://rubens5staracademy.com/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported here; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates and costs across similar programs.
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.