- Students seeking an associate’s degree may qualify for federal financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education offers a combination of grants and loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to qualified individuals. You must select a program that ends in a degree and demonstrate a financial need. Your cosmetology school’s office of financial aid can assist you with the application or you can complete one online. If you meet the enrollment and financial requirements, your school will receive a disbursement directly from the loan originator or the federal government.
- Several scholarships provide financial aid for cosmetology school. OPI, a nail polish manufacturer, awards qualified applicants $500, as of 2011, toward the cost of tuition and other fees. Applicants must be enrolled, or planning to enroll, in an OPI-preferred program. The grant requires the completion of an essay and application, and the provision of a reference from a licensed cosmetology professional.
The Beauty Schools Marketing Group offers $2,500 toward the cost of a cosmetology education. Applicants must be 16 years of age and residents of the United States, and enroll within one year of the award.
Sport Clips offers a $1,000 scholarship for those who demonstrate financial need. To qualify, applicants must have at least an 80 percent grade average and attend classes at least 80 percent of the time at a cosmetology program approved by the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS). - Cosmetology school grants provide funding that you do not pay back, and you can apply through industry-related companies or associations. Grant approvals are based on several factors, such as need, merit or to stimulate academic interest in a particular field.
The AACS offers the ACE (Access to Cosmetology Education) grant to qualified applicants. The ACE grant is awarded by a participating school as identified by the AACS. The grant program was designed to help students begin their careers. As long as you meet the minimum qualifications for the grant and apply in a timely fashion, you may receive financial assistance.
In addition, some educational institutions offer internal grants, which require attendance at the school. If you meet the qualifications for merit- or financial-need-based grants, you may be eligible to receive assistance. - Many cosmetology schools offer alternative methods of payment. Students can apply for loans, which they must pay back, to cover the cost of tuition, supplies and other fees. Furthermore, some schools offer payment plans, which stretch the cost of tuition and other fees over several months.
Many schools also accept tuition assistance sponsored by an employer. Typically, employers provide tuition assistance as long as the program is related to your position. For example, if you work in customer service for a cosmetology product distributor, you may receive tuition assistance. You must meet the guidelines provided by the school to qualify for this type of assistance program.
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