20 Scholarships for Cosmetology Students to Apply For in 2024

Scholarships for cosmetology

Can you think of an occasion where you didn’t worry about how your hair looked? Whether for celebration or regular maintenance, cosmetologists help us take care of our skin, hair, and nails and keep us looking our best!

Beauty professionals of all kinds are essential, but before becoming licensed, they must complete a certain number of hours of training. Paying the costs of cosmetology school and the supplies needed to practice can be a financial stressor for some students. Good thing for them that some scholarships are only open to cosmetology students!

Best cosmetology Scholarships to Apply to

To support the next generation of cosmetologists, we have gathered 20 scholarships that cosmetology students can apply for. 

WiseGeek Cosmetology No-Essay Scholarship

Breaking into the beauty industry can be challenging. To help students overcome financial barriers toward their aspirations in cosmetology and the beauty industry, the WiseGeek Cosmetology No-Essay Scholarship will go to one student interested in pursuing a career in cosmetology, hair styling, and hair design, or a related field.

  • Amount: $500
  • Deadline to apply: August 16, 2022
  • Winner announced: September 16, 2022

Megan Springsteel Memorial Cosmetology Scholarship

This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Megan Springsteel by supporting high school students who are interested in pursuing cosmetology. Any high school student passionate about pursuing a career in cosmetology may apply for this scholarship. 

  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline to apply: July 18, 2022
  • Winner announced: August 18, 2022

Robert F. Lawson Fund for Careers that Care 

This scholarship seeks to support high school and undergraduate students who intend to spend their careers helping other people. Any low-income high school senior or undergraduate student planning to pursue a career in healthcare, social work, government, education, or a related field may apply for this scholarship. 

  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline to apply: April 16, 2023
  • Winner announced: May 16, 2023

“A Daring Path” No-Essay Scholarship 

To encourage everyone to confront their fears and live life to the fullest, the “A Daring Path” No-Essay Scholarship exists to support a bold person who wants to get the most out of this world. The scholarship is open to all students and non-students from any field of study. The only requirement is that you’re ready to take on the planet and create a life that other people dream of living.

  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline to apply: October 30, 2022
  • Winner announced: November 30, 2022

#FinancialFreedom No-Essay Scholarship 

As a small way to create a more equal financial playing field, the #FinancialFreedom Scholarship exists to support an ambitious student motivated to improve their life through education. The scholarship is open to all high school, undergraduate, and graduate school students and non-students from any field of study. 

  • Amount: $500
  • Deadline to apply: October 30, 2022
  • Winner announced: November 30, 2022

“A Courageous Spirit” No-Essay Scholarship 

To encourage everyone to confront their fears and build more meaningful lives, this scholarship exists to support a courageous and ambitious person who wants to grow. The scholarship is open to all students and non-students from any field of study. The only requirement is that you’re ready to learn, grow, and choose courage over comfort on your journey in life.

  • Amount: $500
  • Deadline to apply: October 31, 2022
  • Winner announced: November 31, 2022

@ESPdaniella’s Gap Year Scholarship 

Students who have previously taken a gap year and returned to school afterward are encouraged to apply for the @ESPdaniella’s Gap Year Scholarship. This scholarship seeks to support students who took a gap year and returned stronger. It is open to students in high school or any stage of college who have previously taken a gap year.

  • Deadline to apply: October 31, 2022
  • Winner announced: December 31, 2022
  • Amount: $1,000

Sean Carroll’s Mindscape Big Picture Scholarship 

The Mindscape Big Picture Scholarship was created to provide financial support for those looking to pursue higher education to understand how the world works. This scholarship is open to all students who have a deep curiosity about studying the universe for its own sake. It will seek to lift those from underrepresented communities in those fields and first-generation college students.

  • Amount: $10,000
  • Deadline to apply: December 15, 2022
  • Winner announced: January 15, 2023

Michael Rudometkin Memorial Scholarship 

This scholarship aims to honor the life of Michael Rudometkin by supporting students passionate about community service and making the world a better place. Any current student involved in their community and pursuing a degree, certificate, or trade school may apply for this scholarship. 

  • Amount: $600
  • Deadline to apply: September 1, 2022
  • Winner announced: September 30, 2022

Alexis Potts Passion Project Scholarship 

This scholarship aims to help driven, motivated, and passionate students afford higher education to pursue their dreams. Any high school senior or undergraduate student with a strong passion, such as for a sport, hobby, or community service opportunity, may apply for this scholarship. 

  • Amount: $620
  • Deadline to apply: September 1, 2022
  • Winner announced: September 15, 2022

Mental Health Matters Scholarship  

The Mental Health Matters Scholarship exists to support students who struggle with mental health but are still active members of their communities. Applicants can be of any education level and will be required to submit a short essay about how they are active leaders in their community. 

  • Amount: $500
  • Deadline to apply: September 1, 2022
  • Winner announced: September 30, 2022

“$$$ Isn’t Everything” Scholarship 

This scholarship exists to help one new student or graduate each month to worry a little bit less about money and get a bit of time and energy back to focus on the important things. There is no essay requirement, so applicants are encouraged to apply earlier to better their chances of winning. 

  • Amount: $550
  • Deadline to apply: July 31, 2022
  • Winner announced: July 31, 2022

Terry Masters Memorial Scholarship 

This scholarship aims to continue Terry’s legacy of giving by inspiring others to embrace and pursue the same passion and joy that Terry found in painting outdoors and to honor his memory through excellence in the arts for years to come. Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate pursuing a degree in fine arts may apply, but preference will be given to painters.

  • Amount: $2,000
  • Deadline to apply: December 9, 2022
  • Winner announced: January 9, 2023

Ben Bonner Memorial Scholarship 

This scholarship aims to honor Ben Bonner’s legacy by supporting low-income students interested in pursuing careers in the trades. Any low-income undergraduate trades student or high school senior interested in trade school may apply for this scholarship. 

  • Amount: $3,150
  • Deadline to apply: August 1, 2022
  • Winner announced: August 31, 2022

Ron Dennis Memorial Scholarship for the Trades

This scholarship aims to support the legacy of Ron Dennis by supporting students pursuing careers in the trades. Any trade school student or high school student who plans to pursue trade school in Oklahoma or Texas may apply. 

  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline to apply: August 1, 2022
  • Winner announced: August 31, 2022

Calvin C. Donelson Memorial Scholarship 

In memory and honor of Calvin, this scholarship aims to support students who desire to follow a career path in skilled trades. He would be the first to say that a trade career could be an ideal option that doesn’t require four years of college.

  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline to apply: August 30, 2022
  • Winner announced: September 30, 2022

Sullivan Promise Project Scholarship 

The Sullivan Promise Project Scholarship exists to support students who embody the ‘everyday hero,’ involving themselves in community service or non-profit work. High schoolers from Virginia are eligible to apply if they have a non-traditional home life and yet choose to spend their time making a difference in their community.

  • Amount: $500
  • Deadline to apply: September 1, 2022
  • Winner announced: September 30, 2022

Jameela Jamil x I Weigh Scholarship 

I Weigh is all about radical inclusivity and allyship, creating a community where no one feels alone. As part of their mission to amplify new voices, they’ve launched a scholarship, and at least three students will be awarded $5,000 each for their education.

  • Amount: $15,000
  • Deadline to apply: August 17, 2022
  • Winner announced: September 7, 2022

Grandmaster Nam K Hyong Scholarship 

This scholarship aims to continue Grandmaster Hyong’s legacy of support and passion for education. We are looking for first-generation immigrants or first-generation college students with a true passion for changing their lives and families – just as Grandmaster Hyong, Ph.D., was able to do.

  • Amount: $500
  • Deadline to apply: August 21, 2022
  • Winner announced: September 21, 2022

“Equal Opportunity” Scholarship 

As a small way to help create a more equal playing field, the “$1,000 Equal Opportunity” Scholarship exists to support two motivated high school, undergraduate, or graduate school students who want to improve their lives and the lives of the people around them.

  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline to apply: September 1, 2022
  • Winner announced: October 1, 2022

About cosmetology Scholarship 

Cosmetology, like other trades, has similar cost requirements as a public college or university. Depending on the state the student lives in, the level of experience and education needed to get licensed can affect cost. 

Winning cosmetology scholarships is an effective way to avoid costs like tuition and supplies. 

What are cosmetology Scholarships?

Cosmetology Students Scholarships

Cosmetology scholarships are financial awards only given to students who are enrolled, intend to enroll, or have enrolled in a cosmetology program. There may be specific instructions or restrictions on how recipients can spend the scholarship, so applicants should read the scholarship requirements carefully. 

What Qualifies as a cosmetology Scholarship?

A cosmetology scholarship is a financial award only open to applicants affiliated with a cosmetology program or intending to enroll in a beauty school. Enrollment status may affect what scholarships you qualify for, so read the description of each scholarship you apply for carefully. 

Students interested in applying may be asked to provide documents proving that they are current students actively enrolled in beauty school or display their past work to apply. 

Types of Cosmetology Scholarships Available

There are many different types of scholarships available for cosmetology students to apply for. The type of scholarship can affect the required documents and related materials that have to be submitted to apply. 

Academic merit-based

These scholarships are based solely on your proven academic ability. These can be decided on the applicant’s grade-point average (GPA), standardized test scores (MCAT, LSAT, etc.), or other academic scores.

Colleges may have academic merit-based scholarships for students who are part of their incoming class, so they’ll receive these scores when you apply. But, other organizations have academic scholarships that you will have to submit these scores to as well. 

Identity-based

Scholarships with the qualification partially based on the applicant’s identity are open only to people within those groups. These scholarships exist from trying to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds and marginalized communities by giving awards to students who share the same characteristics as someone who has passed in their honor. 

Athletic

These scholarships are based on a student’s athletic ability, usually within a given sport. Often, coaches from interested schools will scout out students performing well during their sport’s season and decide whether or not to make an offer.  

These may be fairly rare for cosmetology students since they can enroll directly in beauty schools that likely don’t have an athletic program.

How to Find cosmetology Scholarships to Apply for?

Looking for scholarships can be difficult, especially if you don’t know where to look. But, many resources are available to help students look for scholarships. 

The internet is the best place to start if you need help looking for scholarships. Many websites are dedicated to collecting and showcasing scholarships to students in need. Using these websites is helpful because you can filter out scholarships you know you won’t qualify for. You can also bookmark scholarships you don’t qualify for now but may be a good applicant for in the coming semesters. 

If you are enrolled in college already, your advisor and other students are also great resources for finding scholarships. These people are likely familiar with scholarships that your school sponsors or may not be super popular, making your chances of winning better.

 Consulting with your advisor is always a good idea as their job is to help you succeed. If they can’t help you with applications or places to look for scholarships, they can definitely refer you to another administrator or school resource for help. 

Tips for Winning cosmetology Scholarships

So now you know where to look for scholarships, but how do you make sure you get chosen? Well, there is no way to guarantee that you’ll win all the scholarships you apply for, but you can definitely increase your chances. 

For scholarships that require an essay, make sure that your essay answers all parts of the prompt. Look for any ramblings or extra information that doesn’t pertain to the subject of the prompt. Also, make sure that your writing is clear and engaging. Having an essay that is boring and hard to read is an easy way to lose the sponsor’s attention when they try to read your response. 

If you are writing about the research you’ve done, highlighting the exciting parts of your results or further applications of your findings could be helpful. 

Another way to increase your chances of winning is to go for scholarships with smaller award amounts. Many students go for the big ticket dollar amounts to “win big” and get the most money possible. But, many students will apply for these same scholarships for this reason. Making the pool of students, you’re competing against less competitive gives you a better chance of winning. 

Winning many of these smaller award amounts will build up to a more considerable amount as you keep winning, so don’t be afraid to go after smaller fish.

Finally, another way to decrease the number of students you are competing with is to apply for scholarships that are only open to a specific type of applicant.  

Frequently Asked Questions About cosmetology Scholarships

Still have questions? See if we have an answer for you below.

Are cosmetology scholarships legit?

Yes, scholarships for cosmetology students are legit. There are scams, so it is essential to be careful when applying for scholarships, especially if you do so online. 

An excellent way to avoid these scams is to use reputable sites that you or other students are familiar with. Also, be mindful of the information that you submit when you apply. Scholarships will not require your social security number, credit or debit card number, or bank information. If you are asked to submit any of this information, that scholarship is likely a scam. 

How can I improve my chances of winning cosmetology scholarships?

You can do several things to improve your chances of winning college student scholarships. A couple of strategies you can use include:

  • Fully answer the prompt when an essay is required 
  • Check the format requirements for written responses 
  • Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements 

How many cosmetology scholarships can you get?

There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can get as a graduate student, so you don’t have to limit yourself when applying. 

Depending on the requirements for the scholarships you apply for, you may run into a situation where you have to turn down awards. For example, if you apply for multiple scholarships from cosmetology schools that are only open to students who intend to attend those colleges, you will have to turn down the awards from the colleges you don’t attend. 

Are cosmetology scholarships taxable income?

Generally, no, scholarships are not considered taxable income. However, this is only true if you are enrolled at an eligible college, in a program, and are using the funds for school-related expenses. These expenses include but are not limited to tuition, textbooks, parking fees, and lab fees.

If it is found out that you have used scholarship funds for expenses unrelated to your degree or college expenses, then these funds may be considered taxable income. Check the description and other fine print of the scholarships that you apply for to see if there is a requirement for how the awarded funds are used.

What’s the best way to apply for cosmetology scholarships?

A key strategy that gives you the best chances when applying is to put more effort into a handful of scholarships that you feel confident about applying to rather than applying to a lot of scholarships that you only put minimal effort into. This is especially true for longer extended responses. If you feel like you have a story that could set you apart from other applicants, you may find it beneficial to spend more time on that application versus other shorter ones that aren’t specific to your experiences.

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