There are a few things to consider when deciding whether to attend a cosmetology school. Most states require you to complete a formal cosmetology program in order to obtain the necessary license to work as a cosmetologist. But you also have to consider how you will pay for it.
Limited financial resources make it difficult for many students to complete further education. Luckily, financial aid for cosmetology school is possible and may not be as hard to come by as you might think.
This guide provides useful information about the cost of attending cosmetology school, the types of financial aid available for cosmetology students, tips for accessing different types of support, and much more.
Cost of cosmetology school
The cost of attending a cosmetology school depends on several factors such as: B. from the school, the program and your location. AccordinglyAmerican Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), you can expect to pay about $10,000 or more for a full cosmetology program at an independent school in a major metropolitan area. In comparison, a similar program in a more rural area can cost around $6,500. Some programs cost over $20,000.
Shorter programs that require fewer license hours, like beautician or manicurist, will likely cost less. The schoolsRufcan also be a factor; The better known and better your reputation is in the beauty world, the more expensive it is likely to be.
Often the biggest cost of cosmetology school is tuition, but remember that you will also need to purchase tools of the trade and pay the associated student experience fees. Textbooks can cost hundreds of dollars, and you'll likely need to purchase supplies (a student set) to complete your hands-on training in hairstyling, nail design, or skincare.
Tools may include a dummy head or hands to practice serving; scissors, razors, hairdressing brushes and combs; makeup brushes and applicators; preparations for the hair, skin or nails; and your apron. You may also need to purchase a laptop or tablet to complete the course, and pay fees for use of lab or lounge equipment and space, and enrollment and registration fees. Overall, your books, materials, and other fees can cost a few thousand dollars on top of tuition. Some schools include a student kit and an iPad in their tuition, while others charge tuition plus a kit fee of around $1,900 or more.
The costs certainly add up, but it's possible to get your cosmetology degree without breaking the bank. However, when choosing a school, keep in mind factors beyond cost. While a quality education doesn't necessarily mean you have to pay the highest price, finding the cheapest option may give you the flexibility, quality, and rigor you need to be a in-demand, licensed professional esthetician with the skills to to meet a wide range of needs Demand for specific services in your area.
Government financial support for beauty students
There are different types of financial aid to help students meet post-secondary education costs, and sources of funding can be federal, state, local, or private. Here's an overview of the basic types of financial aid you're likely to encounter as a cosmetology student.
Federal grant for beauty school
The federal government provides student assistance through a number of different vehicles, all of which can be accessed by first submitting oneFree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal aid is usually granted based on financial need. To apply for federal student aid, you must attend a program with an aTitle IV Educational Institution, which means the school meets certain requirements to be accredited by a US Department of Education-approved organization.
The different types of federal financial aid are:
subsidies
A scholarship is a needs-based financial grant and does not have to be repaid by the student. The most common is thePell Grant, awarded to students who are not currently graduating. Other scholarships are available for students willing to work in education if there is an urgent need or for those who have served in the military.
work, study
In the case of dual study funding, the federal government undertakes to pay your school a fixed amount, which is used to pay you as an employee. Students who study and work must seek employment at the school and be paid directly by the school, but cannot earn more from the school than is provided by the government. Students can use the funds as they see fit - it is not mandatory that everything goes into the tuition fees.
student loans
A student loan is money that a student borrows to pay for school and agrees to pay back after graduation. Typically, the loan is repaid with interest, although federal loans may have a lower fixed interest rate than what private lenders offer for a comparable loan. Undergraduate students can typically borrow between $3,500 and $12,500 per year, although it's a good idea to borrow as little money as possible to avoid incurring too much debt.
To complete the FAFSA and access government financial aid, you must create a StudentAid.gov account andfollow several stepsto fill out and submit the form. Pay attention to federal, state and universityThe FAFSA deadlineto ensure you receive your application in a timely manner and to give you the best chance of getting the help you need.
Cosmetology schools that are Title IV institutions typically have one or more staff members who are knowledgeable about federal aid and can help prospective students and current participants meet deadlines and paperwork.
State and local grant for beauty school
Depending on the state in which you live, your FAFSA may also give you access to state, state, or local financial assistance. The grant may be based on financial need or academic merit.
For example, the state of Nebraska offers theNebraska Opportunity Grantfor students attending an accredited post-secondary institution pursuing a degree, certificate or degree and demonstrating demonstrated financial need.Nevada Millennium Campaignis a merit-based scholarship that awards up to $10,000 to students who have lived in the state for at least two years, received a diploma from a Nevada high school, and have earned at least a 3.25 GPA.
The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) maintains a list ofgovernment funding programs. In addition, some states have regional agreements that students attending schools in partner states may be eligible for certain types of grants orstate-reduced tuition fees.
How much is the federal financial aid for the cosmetology school?
In the 2019-2020 school year, undergraduate students (not exclusively cosmetology students) who received federal tuition aid received an average federal aid amount of14.940 $as a combination of scholarships, work and study opportunities, loans and educational credits.
The amount of financial aid—government or private—that you can expect depends on many factors, including whether you attend a beauty school that qualifies you for government financial aid, your household income, the type of school, or the program you are attending. You participate, whether you have demonstrated sufficient need or deserve aid based on academic merit, and more.
So what is the financial support for cosmetology school? Depending on your school, this may cover some or all of the school's tuition and fees. Cosmetology school financial support also applies to educational expenses, which can include your necessary toolkit, products, and textbooks.
If your school is a Title IV institution, the amount of financial aid past cohorts of students have received is a public record. You can find this information atCollege-Navigator, a resource site operated by the US Department of Education, or directly on the school's website. Even if your school is not a Title IV school, you may still want to ask for their statistics regarding student financial aid (but note that such information provided privately may not be audited or apple to apple fit). see comparable schools).
Accreditation and federal grants
An important but often overlooked consideration in the financial aid process is whether the school you are considering is accredited by aRecognized by the US Department of Educationaccreditation body.
Accreditation means that an institution has voluntarily undergone a comprehensive self-assessment and objective assessment of its quality and rigor by an independent accreditation agency. During an accreditation process, representatives from the accrediting agency speak and observe the school's faculty and students, review the school's financial records to determine if the school is financially stable, assess its retention and placement rates, and more. Schools must renew accreditation periodically.
In terms of financial support, accreditation is an essential part of a Title IV school.Title IVof the Higher Education Act enables students to receive study grants from the federal government at eligible universities. To qualify under Title IV, schools must:
- Be licensed and eligible to provide post-secondary education in your states
- Be accredited by agencies approved by the Ministry of Education
- Only students with a high school diploma or equivalent are admitted
- Submit annual accounts for review
- No history of filing for bankruptcy
If a prospective cosmetology school is for-profit or professional, it must have offered the same program for at least two years before it can apply for Title IV status.
If being eligible for federal financial aid is important to you, make sure the school you are considering has Title IV status. Your website can provide your unique school code, or you can link to themfederal school code listor theResearch database of accredited post-secondary institutions and programsto find your school. Then enter the code in the appropriate field on the FAFSA to indicate which schools you would like to receive your financial application results from.
Loans for cosmetology schools
Student loans can be an important piece of the financial aid puzzle, as they often fill in where grants, scholarships, and work-study leave gaps in coverage and allow you to continue with your education. However, it is important to understand that unlike other types of grants, loans must eventually be repaid, usually with interest, after you earn your degree or certificate. This can get very expensive: the average amount of student loan debt in 2021 (among different students, not specific to cosmetology students) was37.172 $, with an average monthly payment of $393.
The last thing you want is a mountain of debt when you start your career in cosmetology. Therefore, it is advisable to research as many grants or scholarships as possible before applying for or accepting a loan.
Here are the main types of student loans available to cosmetology students and what you can expect from each.
federal loan
The US Department of Education offers the following types ofloanfor students who want to study cosmetics:
Directly subsidized loans
These loans are available to eligible graduate students who demonstrate sufficient financial need and plan to attend college or professional training. With subsidized loans, the state pays interest on the loan during the school year and the first six months after graduation, or during a deferral – if payment is delayed for an important reason. This is the cheapest type of loan for students.
Non-subsidized direct loans
These loans are available to students pursuing post-secondary education at all levels, and financial need is irrelevant. The terms of these loans, including interest rates, are usually not that favorable for students. Because they are not subsidized, you are responsible for all interest during school and immediately after graduation, or they accrue and add to the total amount owed.
PLUS direct loans
These loans are available to parents of dependent students or students who have earned academic or professional degrees. Creditworthiness is one factor that qualifies for this loan.
Direct Consolidation Loans
This type of loan is usually for students who have already taken out a few loans and want to combine them all into one payment.
Government Loans
Both public and private loan options are available to students. However, like federal loans, federally administered loans are among the most affordable for students for a variety of reasons.
First, they tend to have fixed and low interest rates compared to private lenders. They also tend to be more flexible with their payment terms, and your credit rating may not matter (although it depends on the state and lending program).CollegeStipendien.orgmaintains a list of state-specific loans that you can browse to see what is available to you.
Private Loans
Of course, as with any major expense, there is an option to get financing through a private lender such as your local bank or credit union. Private loans can offer more flexibility in securing financing, but interest rates on private loans are generally higher than public loans and repayment terms can be more stringent.
However, some non-profit organizations offer private student loan financing on more favorable terms. These includeSallie Mae, which offers graduate and vocational training loans, andClimb, an organization dedicated to expanding access to post-secondary education through loans and other resources.
Cosmetology School Scholarships
Scholarships are financial gifts given to students for any number of reasons including academic merit, involvement in specific affinity groups, coming from specific backgrounds or communities, winning competitions such as writing contests, choosing majors in specific areas of high need, and more. Scholarships may be offered by schools, non-profit organizations, employers, private companies, churches, professional associations, or private donors.
While there may be hundreds of scholarships available to you as a cosmetology student, finding them may take some work on your part. Many experts recommend starting your search locally, as Fellows in your area will be interested in seeing young people from their own communities being trained. Also, the simple math problem - fewer people to compete with if the scholarship is open only to those in your community versus those open to anyone with internet access - means your chance of winning the scholarship , is larger.
It might be a good idea to start with your own circle. Do you have an employer, local community foundation, chamber of commerce, nonprofit organization, church, hall, or other group that you are associated with that might offer a scholarship? Does your future school have one available? For example, students enrolled at The Salon Professional Academy who have the required minimum GPA may apply for theRedken pocket range.Empire beauty schooloffers scholarships to high school students who wish to attend cosmetology school, students with good attendance, and students who may be living in domestic violence shelters.
Ask your network about opportunities in your area. Internet research for cosmetology grants can also lead you to grant opportunities. Search for "Cosmetic Scholarships in..." and enter your city or state information.List of Beauty School Scholarships from Beauty Schools Directoryit is an excellent resource. Or see theCollege Boardor other freegrant databaseWebsites to search for a specific program or location. The more targeted and specific you search, the more successful you will be!
Cosmetology School Scholarships
Scholarships are typically awarded to students who demonstrate that they do not have sufficient financial resources to fund higher education studies. The scholarship you are most likely to come across as an undergraduate or professional student is thisPell Grant, the most popular of all federally funded student aid programs. For the 2020-2021 school year, the average Pell Grant award was$4.310.
Another federal grant you may be able to access is the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), a first-come, first-served grant for low-income students to help with unmet financial needs after Pell Grants.
Your state or private association may also provide need-based grants for cosmetology students or students attending trade or technical schools. For example theGrant program for barbers and barbers in Oregonprovides educational funding to Oregon residents who attend licensed cosmetology schools and demonstrate significant financial need. Be sure to contact your state's Department of Education or Cosmetics Department to learn more about scholarship opportunities you may be eligible for.
What is the difference between grants and scholarships?
Whilegrants and grantsThey are free money given to you with no need to give it back. They are not the same.
Scholarships are typically awarded on a grant basis, primarily at the state, state, or federal level. There may be some “conditions” related to the obligation to study a certain subject after graduation, to work in a certain field or to work for a certain employer. On the other hand, scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of academic merit, talent, background, or chosen field of study.
Career and technical education for high school students
If you're still in high school and worried about the prospect of paying for a post-secondary cosmetology program, consider a school that offers Career and Technical Education (CTE). Your school district may refer to it as a business or trade school or career development course.
These career-specific programs (either within high schools or as charter schools) provide instruction in specific technical or career-oriented skills, such as: B. Cosmetics. The benefit is that it may be possible to get some or all of the cosmetology education you need to get your license for free or at a reduced cost during high school.
For example, in Lansing, Indiana, Thornton Fractional North High School opened a new oneCosmetics/hairdresser programin fall 2021. The free public school requires students to complete 1,500 hours of training during their junior and senior years, and students have enough training to earn their licenses. If you're still in high school, it might be a good idea to explore such options in your area to potentially save thousands of dollars that you could be paying for professional training.
Financial Assistance for Veterans and Their Families (VA Assistance)
If you are a veteran, active military member, or the spouse or family member of someone who has served in the armed forces, you may have access to additional information.financial aid options related to the military.
GI Account
Veterans, military personnel and qualified dependents can use G.I. Collect coursework, books and supplies all in onerecognized cosmetology schoolor anotherextracurricular course. The GI Chapters in the bill that could help service members and their families pay for college include The Montgomery G.I. Bill (active duty and selected reserve) and post-9/11 G.I. Account. More,unused benefitsmay be transferred by veterans to their dependent spouses or children.
Service Grant in Iraq and Afghanistan
If your parent or legal guardian died while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, you may be able to receivefederal grant, which would not affect your entitlement to other means-tested state aid.
Military School Aid
Current military personnel may receive instruction at accredited colleges, universities, junior colleges, and professional technical schoolsMilitary School AidProgram. There are conditions including a minimum length of service remaining and a cap on credit hours.
Loan Benefits
Service members who have already taken out student loans may be eligible for deferred payments, retention of accrued interest, and lower interest rates.
military bags
Active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their families may also qualify for scholarships from the American Legion, AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other veteran service organizations.
military spouses
Cosmetology can be an excellent career for spouses in the military, and resources are available for those who wish to pursue an education. Military OneSource is a Department of Defense program that provides a variety of resources on many aspects of military life, including information onSpousal Allowance and Scholarships.
Reimbursement of cosmetology school fees
Many students find it necessary to work while attending school. Luckily, in addition to providing you with income to fund your studies, your employer may be able to provide you with assistance or reimbursement.
In this type of program, you would submit receipts for your education expenses to your employer and be reimbursed. For example,Heimdepot,Publix, and UPS provides tuition reimbursement services for part-time and full-time employees for professional/technical education programs. Be sure to check with your employer which programs qualify, but many companies will refund any program as long as the skills learned benefit the employer in some way.
Additionally, some companies in the cosmetics industry are willing to invest in the talent and training of future employees, offering tuition reimbursement as an entry bonus.
How to graduate cosmetology school with no debt
The cost of post-secondary education continues to rise every year, with no end in sight. It may be tempting to think that attending cosmetology school is worth it at all costs because you can afford it if you work as a successful, licensed cosmetologist. But it can take years to build a consistent customer base and earn enough to pay off your accumulated debt.
Luckily, besides grants, scholarships, tuition reimbursement, and study and work programs you can get for college, there are some other methods you can consider to limit or even eliminate your school debt.
Buy selectively for schools
If you are looking for cosmetology schools in your area, check out graduation rates and history of financial aid. Those with high graduation rates and a history of having provided significant financial assistance may be worth a second look. Rather than just looking at the published tuition fee (the cost of the plaque), do some research to find out what your net cost would be after applying for different types of grants.
be a working student
Suppose your cosmetology school offers evening and weekend classes. If this is the case, your schedule may allow you to work full-time while attending school, so you can now pay more out of pocket instead of taking on interest-bearing debt. Or you could have a side hustle — like driving a Lyft, walking dogs, or tutoring — and use that income entirely to pay for school.
Earn high school credit
As mentioned earlier, taking cosmetology training while attending public school can be a great way to graduate with no debt. Even if you only complete part of the program during high school, after graduation you can complete it for a small fee or transfer your credits to another school.
Apply for all suitable scholarships and grants
Even grants as low as $100-$200 can result in big savings if you earn enough. Make seeking scholarships and fellowships a regular practice and set aside a time for it each week. You can't win if you don't sign up, and every penny you make now is money you won't have to pay later.
Look for free colleges or low-cost training programs
Some states or counties may offer free or low-cost vocational training at local community colleges. For example theTennessee PromiseThe program pays tuition for students attending community colleges and public technical schools. Explore what's available in your area and remember that some schools offer inexpensive tuition or tuition waivers for low-income students.
Create your own work study
Chances are, many cosmetology schools don't have structured work-study programs. But it doesn't hurt to ask if you could work in exchange for reduced tuition or other fees. Maybe they are looking for a receptionist or someone to clean up the hall at the end of the day. Instead of paying someone else, the school can hire you to pay part of their tuition costs and everyone wins - you'll have less debt and you'll have an experienced and motivated volunteer.
make a budget
It sounds like basic advice, but when done right, creating and following a strict household budget can help you pay for school by simply showing you what you can save. By being careful about what you spend your money on and eliminating some unnecessary household expenses, you could be preparing for a debt-free future.