Career Training Path › New Mexico › A Better U Beauty Barber Academy
A Better U Beauty Barber Academy
Albuquerque, New Mexico · Private for-profit career school · Training programs available:
Address: 5400 Phoenix Ave NE Suite 105, Albuquerque, NM 87110 · Phone: (505) 265-4777 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, not yet lifted — Jun 2025 · Warning · Council on Occupational Education.
A Better U Beauty Barber Academy is a private for-profit trade school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, offering barber school programs, accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
A Better U Beauty Barber Academy has a 78.6% completion rate, above the New Mexico state average of 42.9%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median debt and median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus.
Annual cost of attendance at A Better U Beauty Barber Academy is $23,826, and the school participates in federal Title IV aid, with 53.9% of students receiving Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbers | $36,440 | $39,100 | $39,320 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in New Mexico (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 | 39 | 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
A Better U Beauty Barber Academy is a private for-profit trade school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and is eligible for federal financial aid under Title IV. The school's core program area is barber schools, with 39 completers reported among a small undergraduate enrollment of 46 students.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 78.6%, which is above the New Mexico state average of 42.9%. The annual cost of attendance is reported at $23,826, and 53.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of lower-income students. Median debt of graduates and median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data.
This school suits students seeking a focused, single-trade credential in barbering rather than a broad associate degree. Because program details on schedule length are not specified in the data provided, career changers should contact the school directly to confirm whether the program fits a working adult's schedule. Prospective students can verify accreditation status directly with the Council on Occupational Education and review the school's federal outcomes on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
The school offers barber school programs, its single reported program family, with 39 completers among 46 enrolled students.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and its 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 aid programs, and 53.9% 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 78.6%, which is above the New Mexico state average of 42.9%.
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 (505) 265-4777 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 $23,826.
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 options compared to public institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly at (505) 265-4777 or visit https://abuacademy.com/ for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation with the Council on Occupational Education and review federal outcome data at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?493868.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program length or schedule format, so career changers should contact the school directly to determine fit for their situation.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school or New Mexico's licensing board for barbering requirements.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach A Better U Beauty Barber Academy at (505) 265-4777 or through its website, https://abuacademy.com/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; use the College Scorecard link to look up other barber schools in New Mexico.
Other trade and career schools in Albuquerque, NM
- Paul Mitchell the School-AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM · 78% completion
- Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM · 31% completion
- Pima Medical Institute-AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM · 68% completion
- Carrington College-AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM · 65% completion
- Avenue Academy, A Cosmetology InstituteAlbuquerque, NM · 94% completion
- Aveda Institute-New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM · 88% completion
- Brookline College-AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM · college
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic InstituteAlbuquerque, NM · 14% completion
See all trade and career schools in New Mexico or search by ZIP code.
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.