North Plainfield, NJprivate forprofitwww.robertfiance.edu/
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Robert Fiance Beauty Schools-North Plainfield is a vocational institution laser-focused on a single, practical outcome: turning students into licensed beauty professionals ready for the New Jersey state board exams and entry-level salon work. With an open admissions policy and a curriculum centered entirely on cosmetology, barbering, and skincare, it operates more like a high-intensity trade apprenticeship than a traditional college. The atmosphere is described as relaxed and friendly, but the goal is unequivocally professional certification and job placement.
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Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Admissions at Robert Fiance Beauty Schools-North Plainfield is characterized by an open-door policy, with multiple sources reporting a 100% . The process is direct and inquiry-based: prospective students submit a form online, and an admissions representative contacts them to answer questions and help them get started. There is no mention of standardized test requirements (SAT/ACT) in the admissions process. The school is a small, specialized institution, with total enrollment figures for the network reported at 310 students in 2024, and the North Plainfield campus specifically enrolling approximately 190 undergraduates. The student body is primarily full-time.
The academic offering is singular and career-focused. The school's entire purpose is to prepare students to pass the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling examinations and begin entry-level employment. All campuses are fully accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Popular majors, as reported, include Esthetician and Skin Care, Nail Technician, and Cosmetology. On average, the North Plainfield campus awards about 37 degrees in Cosmetology and 6 in Barbering annually. The curriculum is not theoretical; it is a direct pipeline to state licensure and salon work.
Student life revolves around the practical, hands-on environment of the beauty school. Descriptions from community reviews highlight a "very relaxed and friendly" atmosphere within the school/salon setting. The institution promotes itself as part of an award-winning network, having won industry competitions like 1st Place Global Beauty Masters. The experience is less about campus clubs or dorm life and more about immersive training in a professional salon environment, guided by instructors like the praised "Mrs. Burke."
Outcomes are measured by graduation, licensure, and earnings. The 150%-time completion rate (a common metric for trade programs) is reported at 66.67%, with a first-year retention rate of 91.7%. Post-graduation earnings data shows a starting point: one year after graduation, median earnings are $21,566, rising to $36,427 for the higher-earning cohort. Five years out, the median is $20,564, with the higher-earning group at $45,519. The school's explicit goal is to prepare students for the state board exams and "begin entry-level employment," framing success as immediate job placement in the beauty industry.
The published tuition is $21,425, with additional costs for room and board where applicable. However, the average after grant and scholarship aid is a central figure for students. The school offers a net price calculator to provide personalized estimates. Most students are eligible to apply for financial aid, and the Financial Aid Office assists with FAFSA applications. The school offers numerous institutional scholarships, which may be merit-based, academic, or athletic. The average loan amount for students who borrow is reported as $6,586 per year.
Robert Fiance Beauty Schools-North Plainfield stands out for its utter lack of pretense and its razor-sharp focus. This is not a liberal arts college; it's a trade school with a single-minded mission: licensure and job readiness in the beauty industry. Its 100% reflects an open-access philosophy for those committed to this trade. The atmosphere is praised as supportive and relaxed, but the end goal is rigorously practical—passing the NJ State Board exams. It represents a direct, fast-track alternative to traditional higher education for students certain of their vocational path, backed by NACCAS accreditation and a network with award-winning competition results.


