How to Pay for Beauty School

Have you found your passion in the beauty industry? Are you aspiring to become an esthetician, manicurist, or hairstylist? The first step in pursuing a beauty school education is from an accredited institution like Moler Beauty Academy in Ohio. Of course, part of getting an education is paying for it, but finances should not get in the way of pursuing your goals. Fortunately, financial aid is available for those who qualify. Whether you want to explore haircare, skincare, or nail art, there are many ways to pay for your beauty school journey. Continue reading to get a complete look at how to pay for cosmetology school.

Fill Out Your FAFSA

The FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form is your entry point for qualifying for federal financial aid. Allow yourself plenty of time to fill out your FAFSA® form, which will assess your federal tax returns and bank statements to determine your financial need. If your parents claim you as a dependent on their taxes, you’ll need their tax information to complete your FAFSA®. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an aid offer, which may include grants and student loans.

Understand the Different Types of Financial Aid

When you receive your aid offer after filing your FAFSA®, you may choose to accept some or all forms of financial aid offered to you. Before you finalize how you’ll pay for beauty school, it’s important to know the difference between different types of financial aid.

Grants

Grants, such as the Federal Pell Grant, are funds that typically do not require repayment. However, there are exceptions. For example, if you do not complete your cosmetology program, you may be responsible for paying back a portion of the amount awarded. Grants are given based exclusively on financial needs. They may pay for the entirety of your tuition or just a portion of it.

Loans

With federal student loans, you can take out a loan with the U.S. Department of Education as your lender. Unlike loans from private financial institutions, federal student loans do not require any prior credit history for borrowers to qualify for them. There are a few different types of federal loans:

• • Direct Subsidized Loans – These loans are awarded to students based on financial need and have interest subsidized while you are attending school and for six months following your graduation. In other words, you do not need to pay interest on subsidized loans until after you graduate.
  • Direct Unsubsidized Loans – Unsubsidized federal loans do not take financial needs into account. They offer fixed interest rates for the life of the loan, but borrowers are responsible for paying interest throughout the life of the loan, even while they are attending school.
  • Parent PLUS Loans

– Expenses that are not covered by grants and direct loans may be covered by parent PLUS loans. These loans do require a credit check and list parents as borrowers along with students.

Apply for Scholarships

Federal financial aid is not the only resource you have available to pay for beauty school. Private scholarships are also available. You will likely need to fill out your FAFSA® form before applying to scholarships, as some are awarded based on financial need. Other scholarships are merit-based, requiring you to meet specific academic achievements to qualify. A few scholarships to explore in the beauty industry include:

• The Alice Madden Barton Scholarship Program sponsored by Great Clips
• The Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship Foundation
• The PBA/NCA Sally Beauty Scholarship
• The Beauty Changes Lives Scholarship
• The NCEA Esthetician Scholarship

Note that some scholarships are awarded at specific times of the year, so you may need to plan your beauty school enrollment to align with a given scholarship’s timeline.

Consider a Part-Time School Schedule

One of the perks of beauty school is that programs can be completed on a much shorter timeline than traditional 4-year degree programs. Cosmetology and esthetics programs can also be completed on a part-time schedule with flexible class times. For example, you may choose to attend the Cosmetology Program at Moler Beauty Academy through night classes, completing your education in as little as 115 weeks. With this type of schedule, you have room to work while you attend school, so you can pay for school and living expenses.

Work with Our Financial Aid Advisors

Because there are so many options available to pay for school, you may be overwhelmed when it comes to applying for financial aid and scholarships to fund your education. Our financial aid advisors are here to help. We want to set you up for success, and that begins with having a solid plan to pay for your education. Scheduling a tour at our Cincinnati or Fairfield campus will help you find answers to all your questions about financial aid and begin the application process.

Take the First Step Towards Your Cosmetology School Education

Are you ready to stop dreaming and start doing? Moler Beauty Academy offers cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring programs beginning throughout the year, so don’t wait to schedule your tour at one of our Ohio campuses. Contact us in Cincinnati at (513) 621-5262 or in Fairfield at (513) 874-5116. Alternatively, fill out our contact form and we’ll get in touch with you to schedule your campus visit.