Frequently Asked Questions about Scholarships

The topic of financial aid, scholarships, and how to pay for school in general can be stressful for students. Take a deep breath and look at this FAQ section about those challenging topics. We can help you understand how to look for financial aid, whether beauty schools even offer financial aid, and what options English as a Second Language (ESL) students have. Quickly jump to a list of popular cosmetology school aid options, review common beauty school scholarships, and review our Tips for Applying for Scholarships while you’re here!

Financial Aid

Want help paying for beauty school?

We conducted a survey in 2013 about the cost of beauty school tuition, and how students pay for school. We found that despite 72% of respondents saying they were either “somewhat concerned” or “very concerned” about whether they’d be able to pay for beauty school, only 22% of them bothered to apply for scholarships? Shocking! We also found out that only half (50%) filled out the FAFSA to discover what federal financial aid they may be eligible for, and nearly 64% used student loans to pay for school. All while barely 1/5 of the students applied for scholarships to help them cover the costs of their education.

We at Beauty Schools Directory want to close that gap and help future beauty school students find all the resources possible to make their cosmetology dreams a reality. We have compiled a list of scholarships for each of the specialties in the beauty business below, and we will continue to add to this list as we learn about more – so check back often!

In short: Yes! Mostly…

We can’t say for certain that every single beauty school offers financial aid options that you would consider suitable. So, here’s the deal…

You can typically find three types of financial aid:

  • Federal loan and grant program
  • Private loan providers
  • Scholarship and grants

Many accredited cosmetology schools offer a mix of all three of those types of financial aid. This is suitable for most students, when it comes to paying for the cost of cosmetology school. In very low cost schools that offer certificates or workshops, financing options might be available, since federal loans may not cover them. This can be true even in programs that aren’t accredited or mandatory.

Some of those non-accredited cosmetology schools also offer private grants and scholarships to qualified students for their cosmetology school costs. In addition to speaking with school advisors, we recommend performing your own research for scholarship opportunities as well. You never know what you’ll stumble upon

Be sure to inquire about cosmetology scholarship programs and financial aid that are aimed at diversity initiatives in beauty schools. You may be able to qualify for a diversity scholarship due to the different cultural awareness that you add to a cosmetology school. These scholarships are intended to increase the enrollment of minorities at institutions throughout the United States.

To learn more about diversity scholarships that are offered at bilingual cosmetology schools, get in touch with the financial aid office at the cosmetology schools you’re considering. The financial aid office has information on all of the scholarship programs that are administered through the school and any government grants that you may also qualify for. Also, check out our list of beauty scholarships to apply for .

Scholarships

Some financial aid options to cover cosmetology school costs for your beauty school may include:

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
  • Federal Work-Study
  • Federal Perkins Loan

There are also numerous scholarships for cosmetology school you can apply for, though it was shocking to discover in our survey that only 22% of beauty school students bothered to apply for the scholarships available to them.

Don’t be one of the students that overlooks these opportunities!

Scholarships do not have to be paid back, as long as you meet the terms and obligations outlined. This means…apply for all the scholarships you can find, as they are essentially free money for your education! You can check out our full "List of Beauty School Scholarships" below and check back often, as we will continue to update the list.

Some of the cosmetology scholarships you could apply for include:

  • NCEA Esthetician Scholarships
  • Cinta Aveda scholarships
  • ACE Grant
  • Sports Clip Scholarship
  • OPI scholarships
  • Massage Magazine Scholarship Program

And of course… Beauty Schools Marketing Group offers our own $2,500 scholarship to help you pay for beauty school ! Be sure to apply!!!

Why, yes! Many cosmetology schools like Empire Beauty Schools offer a full list of scholarships and financial aid as 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.

Want to discuss your options for cosmetology training?

To learn more about the cost of beauty school average for programs near you, and what financial aid options you have, use our search tools to get started. And don’t forget to check out our scholarship opportunity for cosmetology students!

In order to improve your chances of receiving the scholarships you apply for, we have compiled these tips to help:

1. Start researching scholarships right away.

Don’t wait until you’re already enrolled in beauty school to start. As soon as you start researching schools, begin compiling a list of scholarships to apply for too.

2. Read the eligibility rules closely.

Be sure you are eligible for the scholarship before spending your time applying for it. Some scholarships require you to be a certain age, live in a certain area, or be pursuing a specific beauty program.

3. Don’t miss the deadlines.

Don’t wait till the last minute to submit your application – errors and technological difficulties do happen.

4. Be prepared to provide work samples,

letters of recommendation, a video essay, or other materials if the scholarship rules require them.

5. Apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for to increase your chances.

Think outside the box about scholarships that are not necessarily beauty related. Search for scholarships related to your ethnicity, religion, hometown, your parents’ careers, and so on.

6. Read the instructions carefully.

Be sure you follow every direction exactly or you may invalidate your application.

7. Get organized.

Keep a list of the scholarships you applied for, their deadlines, the scholarship board’s contact information, your application and answers, and the date you applied.

8. Take your time.

Double and triple check your spelling and grammar. Read your answers out loud. Ask a friend or family member to read your answers and give honest feedback.

9. Be honest.

Tell your own story, not the story you think the scholarship board wants to hear. Your own story is the most unique story you can tell, and it’s the one you know best. It is what will set you apart from other scholarship applicants.

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