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Scholarships
Top cosmetology scholarships
Find scholarships for cosmetology that can help you pay for college.
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Cosmetology scholarships
10 days left!
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Huffstutter Family Stylist Scholarship
Due: 3/2/26
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
Varies
The Huffstutter Family Stylist Scholarship provides financial support to Oregon and Washington residents pursuing full-time study in cosmetology, beauty, barbering, hair design, or related fields. Eligible applicants must attend Oregon schools offering degrees or certificates in cosmetology or hair design and demonstrate financial need through the required FAFSA. The scholarship is awarded annually and may be renewed for one additional year. Non-Oregon residents who do not select an Oregon institution on their FAFSA must upload their FAFSA Submission Summary to ensure financial need is considered. February 15 is the early bird deadline and March 1 is the final deadline for all applications and materials to be submitted to OSAC. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion for more information.
10 days left!
Apply now
Beauty & Wellness Professionals Scholarship
Due: 3/2/26
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$2,500
The BeautySchoolsDirectory.com team is proud to offer a scholarship for students and professionals changing others' lives through wellness and beauty. The scholarship may be awarded to students currently enrolled in an eligible program and prospective students planning to enroll in an eligible program before the scholarship deadline. All U.S. residents, including DACA recipients and international students may apply. Students of all ages (with parental consent if under 18) are also eligible to apply for the scholarship. Applicants must submit a video essay answering one of the prompts posted on the scholarship's website. Videos exceeding 3 minutes will be disqualified and must be published to YouTube with a public link. Videos must mention Beauty Schools in the description. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship
Due: 6/1/26
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$3,000
The Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship will be awarded to those who must be currently applying for entrance into a Cosmetology or Barber School; or to those who are actively enrolled in a Cosmetology or Barber program. Scholarships are not awarded for esthetician, nail, or other career programs. If you graduate from Cosmetology or Barber School between the dates of January 1st through August 31st of the current award year, you are not eligible. Two letters of recommendation must be submitted. It should come from an employer, instructor, counselor, or someone qualified to offer testimony of the applicant's character. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Rosy Rewards Scholarship Program
Due: 10/1/26
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$250
The Rosy Rewards Scholarship Program is an annual scholarship fund just for future salon professionals. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a cosmetology, barber or esthetics program in the US or Canada resulting in a cosmetology, barber or esthetics license. Continuing education programs or students with an existing cosmetology, barber or esthetics license do not qualify. Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from an instructor or employer, vouching for the applicant's potential. Applicants must also submit two of the best pictures to show off their skills. Rosy Salon Software is awarding at least half of all scholarships to applicants from traditional minority groups. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Buy-Rite's Annual Beauty School Scholarship
Due: 11/1/26
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,000
Buy-Rite Beauty will be awarding a scholarship to a hairstylist or cosmetology student who best exemplifies our core beliefs. No purchase necessary. All participants must have applied to or be enrolled as beautician, esthetician, or cosmetology students. The essay should be between 500-1000 words. The file name should be the applicant's full name, state, and date of birth. All submission emails must contain the student's full name, date of birth, email address, postal address, the school they are currently enrolled in and/or applied to, and a phone number to contact. Buy-Rite Beauty will select the winner based on the best essay as determined by our internal panel of judges. Selection criteria will include, but is not limited to: compelling and engaging description of the essay topic; thematic consistency throughout the submission around the central thesis; and proper spelling and grammar usage throughout the submission. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
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Key takeaways about cosmetology scholarships
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Cosmetology scholarships help cover beauty school costs without needing to be repaid.
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You don’t need perfect grades to qualify—many awards focus on skills, passion, and goals.
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Small scholarships can add up and reduce what you borrow.
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New scholarships open year-round, not just once a year.
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Applying early and often boosts your chances.
If beauty school is on your vision board, you’re probably already thinking about tuition, kits, and exam fees—and how to pay for all of it without stressing. That’s where cosmetology scholarships come in. These awards are designed specifically for future hairstylists, makeup artists, estheticians, and nail techs who want to turn their passion into a career.
This guide will walk you through what cosmetology scholarships are, how to qualify, and which ones are worth applying for—plus how to stack them with other tools to make school more affordable.
What are cosmetology scholarships?
Cosmetology scholarships are financial awards that help pay for beauty school, cosmetology programs, or related training. Unlike loans, scholarships don’t need to be paid back. That alone makes them worth your time.
These scholarships can come from schools, professional beauty organizations, brands, nonprofits, or companies that want to support the next generation of beauty professionals. Some are merit-based, some focus on financial need, and others are all about creativity, leadership, or career goals.
Why scholarships matter for cosmetology students
Cosmetology programs are often shorter than traditional college degrees, which means fewer chances to rely on federal aid alone. Scholarships help fill that gap.
Even a $500 or $1,000 award can cover supplies, licensing exams, or part of your tuition. Stack a few together, and suddenly your out-of-pocket costs look a lot more manageable. Scholarships can also help you avoid borrowing more than you need to—future you will appreciate that.
How to qualify for cosmetology scholarships
Here’s the good news: there’s no single “perfect” cosmetology student profile.
Many scholarships look for:
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Enrollment (or plans to enroll) in a licensed cosmetology or beauty program
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A short essay about your goals or passion for the industry
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Proof of interest, like coursework, training, or experience
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Your info from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) if you’re applying for a need-based scholarship
Some awards may consider GPA or financial need, but plenty don’t. If you’re committed to a career in beauty and willing to apply, you’re likely qualified for more scholarships than you think.
Scholly Scholarships
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Find scholarships that are right for you
Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.
Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Top scholarships for cosmetology majors
Below are examples of popular scholarships for cosmetology students. Availability, deadlines, and amounts can change, so always double-check details before applying.
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Sallie $2,000 No Essay Scholarship – A quick-entry scholarship open to students planning for college or career training, including cosmetology programs.
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Brand sponsored awards - Scholarships or prizes funded by beauty and cosmetology brands to support students pursuing careers in cosmetology, esthetics, hair, makeup, or nail technology—often tied to industry training, certifications, or creative excellence.
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School-sponsored cosmetology scholarships – Many beauty schools offer their own scholarships to enrolled students.
Pro tip: Don’t stop at the big-name scholarships. Local, brand-specific, and school-based awards often have fewer applicants.
How to apply for cosmetology scholarships
Applying doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with these steps:
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Search smart. Use trusted scholarship search tools, like Scholly Scholarships, to filter by cosmetology or beauty programs.
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Get organized. Keep a simple list of deadlines, requirements, and essays.
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Reuse essays (strategically). You can adapt one strong essay for multiple applications.
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Apply early and often. The more you apply, the better your odds.
Even if a scholarship seems small, apply anyway. Small awards add up faster than you think.
Additional resources for cosmetology students
- Scholarships by Major - Find scholarships tailored to your field of study.
- Scholarships for High School Seniors - Perfect if you’re getting ready to start your career training or college journey. Check deadlines—many hit during senior year.
- Scholarships for College Students - Keep applying while you’re in school. New opportunities open up every year.
- Scholarships for First Generation Students - If you’re the first in your family to pursue higher education, these scholarships are designed to support you.
- Scholarships for Adults - Returning to school? These scholarships help adult learners fund their education.
- Scholarships for Women - Empowering scholarships for women, including awards specifically for Black women.
- LGBTQ+ Scholarships - Support for students navigating their identity and education.
- Scholarships by State - Find scholarships based on the state you live in. Many local scholarships have fewer applicants, boosting your chances of winning.
- STEM scholarships - For students blending beauty with science and tech.
Tools like Scholly Scholarships to uncover even more opportunities based on your skills, interests, background, and location. Scout College Search can help you research schools offering cosmetology programs and their total costs.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for cosmetology scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
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No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. See Official Rules and Entry Periods on each scholarship page.
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