What Is It Known For?
Manuel and Blanca Ramirez spent over twenty years working as barbers before they opened Mesa Barber School in January 2014. Their decades of hands-on experience taught them exactly what skills new barbers need to succeed in the real world.
This family-owned approach shapes everything about how they run their school. The Ramirez family built their curriculum around actual industry demands rather than just following textbook requirements. The school keeps their enrollment numbers private, so you’ll need to contact them directly to learn about current class sizes and program availability.
Degrees & Certifications
Mesa Barber School offers three certificate programs designed for students with different starting points and career goals.
- Barber Program (1,200 hours)
- Barber Stylist Program (200 hours)
- International Barber Program (350 hours)
Class Schedules
Some lessons happen with your whole class learning together. Other times you work alone with an instructor on skills you need to improve. The school operates like a real business, so you get comfortable working with customers before you graduate.
Your training combines classroom lessons with real barbershop work from day one. Licensed instructors guide you through techniques with demonstrations before you try them yourself. Then you practice those same skills on actual paying customers while your instructors watch and correct your work.
Call the school to ask about class times. They offer morning, afternoon, and evening options but keep their daily schedules private.
Is It a Good School?
The Arizona State Board of Barbers Examiners accredits Mesa Barber School. This board operates under theArizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board which licenses all barbers statewide.
State accreditation means employers recognize your training and you can sit for licensing exams after graduation.
Acceptance Rate
The school keeps acceptance rate information private. Kindly contact the admissions staff about application requirements and current openings.
How Much Does Tuition Cost
Mesa offers three different programs at different price points to match your situation and budget.
Program costs:
- Barber Program – $12,300 (includes toolkit, textbooks, and uniforms)
- Barber Stylist Program – $3,300
- International Barber Program – $4,450
The school works with each student individually to set up payment plans rather than forcing everyone through the same system. Since the school doesn’t have a net price calculator, we recommend contacting them directly for better estimates.
Programs & Courses
Professional Services
- Barbering
Campus Locations
Mesa 9333 E. Main St. #110 Mesa AZ 85207
Mesa 67 N. Dobson Rd. #102 Mesa AZ 85201
Reviews
Based on a high volume of Google reviews, Mesa Barber School has a strong reputation, with a clear positive trend. The feedback is generally favorable, especially concerning the quality and affordability of haircuts. However, a few negative experiences highlight issues with student professionalism and customer service.
Overall Score: 4.3/5 Stars
Common Praises
Exceptional Instructors and Supportive Environment: This is the most consistent and powerful theme. The instructors, including the owners, are frequently highlighted as “talented,” “impressive professionals,” and having “the best patience in the world.” They are noted for being “master barbers” who personally check every haircut, ensuring quality control. Students feel the school “treats everyone like family” and that the staff is professional and supportive, which is credited with “changing my life” and providing a “quality drivin program.”
High-Quality Cuts at an Unbeatable Price: The most significant draw for customers is the combination of quality and affordability. Many describe the cuts as “clean,” “solid,” and “on point,” especially “fades.” The price is consistently praised as “ridiculously cheap” and “amazing,” often being cited around the $8 to $10 range.
Positive Student and Customer Interaction: Reviewers consistently mention the “great atmosphere” and that students are “welcoming and friendly,” “very informative,” and “eager to learn.” Several specific student barbers received personalized five-star shout-outs for their skill and positive attitude.
Focus on Real-World Training: Student reviews praise the program for its “all hands on” approach, which provides ample practice and confidence for passing the state board exam and entering the profession.
Common Criticisms
Long Wait and Service Times (Consistent Caveat): This is the most common drawback, though most reviewers acknowledge it’s an expected part of visiting a school. Customers frequently state that a simple cut can “take a very long time,” sometimes an “hour and a half” or more, and advise others to “give urself 1 hour for detailed haircut.”
Inconsistent Student Performance: While instructors check the final result, some customers had negative experiences with the haircut process itself, resulting in an “awful and unfinished haircut,” a cut that was “way too short,” or a style that did not follow the request.
Customer Service and Communication Issues: A small but significant number of reviews point to issues outside of the haircut. These include a lack of acknowledgment from staff in the waiting area, feeling like instructors were “disconnected to the patrons,” and one negative interaction where an owner responded confrontationally to a critique of a finished cut.
Minor Facility Issues: One review mentioned that the “smell of sewage is bad sometimes.”
Momentum
The Mesa Barber School maintains a strong and sustained positive momentum. The most recent reviews (within the last year) continue to reinforce the school’s core strengths: excellent value, professional instructors, and a supportive atmosphere. The school’s owners are highly engaged, responding directly to nearly every review. While the owner’s responses can sometimes be defensive, the consistent volume of positive feedback, often praising the student barbers and instructors, suggests the quality of instruction and service value continues to outweigh the occasional issues with wait times and student inconsistency.