For more than a century, Moler Barber College has been training future barbers and cosmetologists. The school has four convenient locations in Oakland, CA, and the East Bay area. MBC prides itself on having small class sizes and flexible scheduling to help students get the best possible education.
Programs & Courses
Cosmetology and Barbering
- Barbering
Campus Locations
Oakland Campus 3815 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, CA 94609
Hayward Campus 22425 Main Street Hayward, CA 94541
San Pablo Campus 13128 San Pablo Ave. San Pablo, CA 94805
Santa Clara Campus 955 Monroe St Santa Clara, CA 95050
Financial Aid Services
Moler Barber College takes part in several federal funding programs. The school accepts Federal Student Aid and Pell Grants, among others. For those with questions, advisors are available on campus with an appointment. MBC’s website also has a price calculator to give students an estimate of tuition costs.
Student Services
MBC gives students the chance to take classes in a variety of fields, including barbering, cosmetology, and esthetics. Courses are also available for those who want to become a certified instructor. The school provides campus tours that explain its programs in greater detail.
Career Services
Counselors at Moler Barber College help by offering current students and alumni career advice. Professionals who have already received their credentials in another state can take a barber refresher program to receive their CA license.
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Moler Barber College (1440 7th St, Oakland, CA) is widely praised for its exceptional value and the dedication of its student barbers, though the experience can be “hit or miss” in terms of cut quality.
Overall Score: 3.9/5 Stars
Common Praises
Outstanding Value/Price: The most consistent and strongest positive is the low, rock-bottom price (historically noted as $7-$10) for a haircut. Reviewers repeatedly state it’s a great deal and highly recommend it for the value alone.
Dedicated and Attentive Students: Many customers describe the student barbers as polite, hard-working, patient, kind, and professional, often taking great pride and time in their work. Students are said to be open to feedback and genuinely focused on doing a good job.
Effective Instructor Supervision: Multiple reviews mention that instructors are always happy to help and will quickly jump in to assist a student or even take over a cut to ensure customer satisfaction. This process is noted as a strong safety net for the quality of the service.
Supportive Environment: Many customers express a desire to support the students and the college’s mission of teaching a craft to young people. The atmosphere is described as generally relaxed and pleasant.
Accessibility: The new location is noted as being great for wheelchairs and walkers and easily accessible by public transportation.
Common Criticisms
Inconsistent Haircut Quality (“Hit or Miss”): The main drawback is the variability in cut quality, which is to be expected at a training college. Reviewers state that sometimes you get a “really good cut,” and other times it can be “horrible” or not up to a professional standard (e.g., poor fades, lack of basic knowledge).
Issues with Tipping/Attitude: A significant criticism revolves around the expectation of tips. One reviewer mentioned that certain students “don’t wanna cut you” because of the amount of the tip, leading to a negative experience over an expected courtesy.
Rude/Annoying Behavior: There are isolated but strong criticisms of rudeness, including a mention of a front desk staff member being “rude” and an instance where a person was “yelling” during a service.
Unprofessional Conduct: One review from 2018 reported disrespectful, uncivilized, and unprofessional conduct from students using inappropriate language, unaware of the clients present.
Momentum
Recent reviews (within the last 4-6 months) continue the mixed trend, with praise for great service and the dedication of young barbers, balanced against new reports of rudeness from the front desk staff and ongoing issues with inconsistent quality. The college’s biggest strength—its price—keeps customers coming back despite the risks associated with student-level services.