Cosmetology School Cost, Tuition & Financial Aid

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• How much does cosmetology school cost?
• Do cosmetology schools offer financial aid for tuition?
• VIDEO: Cosmetology School Cost and How to Pay For It

What is the cost of cosmetology school?

Inevitably, it's one of the first questions that come to mind when applying for beauty school. "How much is cosmetology school going to cost me?" The answer is that it depends. Many people find that cosmetology is significantly more affordable than a traditional four-year university, but it can still be intimidating. So what determines the answer to how much cosmetology school costs? The cost of cosmetology school depends on several factors like the beauty school and its location. Cosmetology schools inside or close to major metropolitan cities like New York or Boston will likely endure higher costs for the whole program, whereas smaller, more rural areas or suburbs may have a smaller price tag. Another thing to consider is that some schools include supplies, cosmetology kits, frocks and aprons, and textbooks in their cost of tuition - be sure to ask the school directly. Our survey of 55 cosmetology schools says that the cost of cosmetology averages between $10,000 and $20,000. The same comprehensive cosmetology program in a rural area could cost closer to low as $6,500. If you choose a more specific program, like esthetics, nail technology or makeup artistry, the cost of beauty school could be much less, often anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000 depending on the beauty program and location of the cosmetology school. But one perk to the comprehensive cosmetology training program is that you learn all those things for one price - hair, nails, makeup and some skin care.

Do beauty schools offer financial aid for tuition?

Many accredited cosmetology schools offer financial aid to pay for the cost of cosmetology school to those who qualify, ranging from grants and scholarships to loans and payment plans. There are even some non-accredited cosmetology schools that offer grants and scholarships to qualified students for their cosmetology school costs, though it may not be federal financial assistance. Much of the government financial aid has become available to qualifying cosmetology students at accredited cosmetology schools, and it is no longer required to be enrolled in a traditional four-year university.

Some financial aid options to cover cosmetology school cost for beauty school may include the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study and the Federal Perkins Loan. There are also numerous scholarships for cosmetology school to apply for, including NCEA Esthetician Scholarships, Cinta Aveda scholarships, ACE Grant, Sports Clip Scholarship, OPI scholarships and the Massage Magazine Scholarship Program. Also, Beauty Schools Marketing Group offers a $2,500 scholarship to help you pay for beauty school.  Check with your beauty school as well. Many cosmetology schools like Empire Beauty Schools offer a full list of scholarships and aid as financial well. Don't let the price of tuition be the one obstacle that keeps you from pursuing your dreams of attending cosmetology school. In addition to planning and saving, make sure you are exhausting all your options for scholarships, grants, financing, payment plans and loans to ensure that you can pursue your dreams of becoming a licensed beauty professional.

VIDEO: Cost of Cosmetology School & How to Pay For It