Career Training Path › New Jersey › Innovate Salon Academy
Innovate Salon Academy
South Plainfield, New Jersey · Private for-profit career school
Address: 4985 Stelton Rd, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 · Phone: (908) 412-9600 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Innovate Salon Academy is a private for-profit trade school in South Plainfield, New Jersey offering esthetician, cosmetology, and barber programs, accredited by NACCAS.
Innovate Salon Academy has a 94.0% completion rate versus a 61.9% state average, and graduates carry a median debt of $6,333, 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 at Innovate Salon Academy is $45,712, and federal financial aid such as FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here. About 54.0% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare specialists | $35,180 | $45,870 | $50,750 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $32,220 | $36,150 | $53,580 |
| Barbers | $32,220 | $54,850 | $63,170 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in New Jersey (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 | 113 | $19,362 | $20,748 | $6,333 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 60 | $19,362 | $20,748 | $6,333 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 20 | $19,362 | $20,748 | $6,333 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | $19,362 | $20,748 | $6,333 |
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
Innovate Salon Academy is a private for-profit trade school located in South Plainfield, New Jersey. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and students can use federal financial aid (Title IV) to help pay for enrollment. The campus awards programs mainly in esthetician schools, cosmetology schools, and barber schools, with esthetician programs being the most common area of study among its roughly 288 undergraduate students.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 94.0%, well above the New Jersey state average of 61.9%. Graduates carry a median debt of $6,333, a notably low figure compared to many trade programs. Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $45,712, and 54.0% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid.
This campus is best understood by prospective students as a beauty and personal-care trades school, with programs in esthetics, cosmetology, and barbering. The stated program lengths are not detailed here, so students weighing fit for a career change should confirm program duration and schedule directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and review the latest completion, debt, and enrollment figures independently, prospective students can consult the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard or contact the school directly using the information provided.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Innovate Salon Academy offers programs in esthetician schools, cosmetology schools, and barber schools, with esthetician programs being the largest area (113 completers), followed by cosmetology (61) and barbering (20).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), and its accreditation status is listed as Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 94.0%, which is above the New Jersey state average of 61.9%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $6,333, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard link for updates.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The listed cost of attendance is $45,712 per year.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Innovate Salon Academy is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition pricing and the type of institutional aid available compared to public or non-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly at (908) 412-9600 or via its website for specific program schedules.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation and review federal outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?483106.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program lengths or scheduling formats, so fit for adult career changers cannot be determined 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 this data; contact the school or check New Jersey's state licensing board for esthetics, cosmetology, or barbering requirements.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Innovate Salon Academy by phone at (908) 412-9600 or through its website at https://www.innovatesalonacademy.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 to compare completion rates, costs, and debt across similar programs in New Jersey.
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.