As a single mother, you have to take care of your children. But the money won’t make itself. So, you have decided to get into Cosmetology but the tuition and miscellaneous fees are just too much more than you can afford. Don’t worry; the government, at least, and we also have many organizations willing to offer you grants. No, this isn’t a loan. You never pay back a grant money, never. So, I will show you the top cosmetology grants for single mothers that you can apply for right now, get approved ASAP, and kickstart your cosmetology journey.
Cosmetology is a particularly appealing field for women since it really has to do with beauty products and techniques for enhancing appearance. The beauty industry is always in demand, as people love visiting salons to improve their looks. The abundance of beauty schools today reflects this demand. Many celebrity stylists and makeup artists began their careers as cosmetologists or hairstylists. Their success came from a passion for learning and developing their skills in the field. Now, it’s your turn. With grants, you will be studying for free.
How Does Cosmetology Grants Work?
Cosmetology school grants are just financial aid for students who can’t afford tuition at cosmetology schools. Often referred to as scholarships, these grants are usually given for free. How it works is that the organization gives the funds to the school directly for the student’s course fees.
If there’s any shortfall, the single mother is responsible for covering the remaining amount. The cost for a standard cosmetology course typically ranges from $6,500 to $10,000 depending on the specialization and course duration.
The primary requirement for a cosmetology course is a high school diploma. So, yes, it is a very suitable option for many single mothers who are high school graduates or college undergraduates. You also need formal training because you need to earn a certificate from an accredited school, recognized by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences, which officially qualifies you as a certified cosmetologist.
I took out time to explain how anyone can complete a cosmetology course for free, so make sure to check that out. Normally, I advise single mothers who are interested in cosmetology to talk to school counselors. I found that these counselors often have a list of grants that can suit the financial needs of single mothers.
Now, note that cosmetology programs really depend on your area of specialization, the duration of study can range from 3 months to 2 years. You can also search for scholarships or grants online but this is actually what we are going to do in this article. It can be a federal grant. It is very easy to get grants if you have good grades from high school or college.
Cosmetology Grants for Single Mothers in 2024
Consider any of these cosmetology grants as a single mother:
1. Bioelements Skincare
Let’s begin with Bioelements Skincare. This was established in 2022. The Esthetics Entrepreneur Award is meant to support four estheticians who want to start their own professional skin care businesses.
Winners will get a Bioelements Opening Order Plan to kick off their esthetic spa business. Also, if you win, you receive advanced education, a Bonus Box of tools, a listing on Bioelements.com’s Spa Locator, social media promotion, and a personal mentor from Bioelements for six months. The total value is over $2,000. Applications close on January 09, 2024.
2. Beauty Changes Lives Scholarships
This is a non-profit organization formed in 2013. Beauty Changes Lives offers cosmetology grants for single mothers to most beauty schools. These are generously funded by top beauty brands. The scholarships help aspiring hairstylists, nail professionals, estheticians, makeup artists, massage therapists, single mothers, and barbers.
There are both “basic” scholarships for new students and “advanced” ones for licensed professionals, like beauty educators. Since starting, Beauty Changes Lives has given over 500 scholarships. These have opened opportunities like working at New York Fashion Week and starting successful businesses.
3. Dermalogica Scholarship Program
You can also apply for the Dermalogica Scholarship Program which provides a 6-month enrollment in Expert Program workshops, valued at over $1,400. This program leads to becoming a Dermalogica Expert. Recipients also get access to jobs.dermalinstitute.com and the IDI Job Board, plus support from a local Business Consultant to aid in their career journey.
4. Hair Freedom For All Fun Scholarship
As a single mother, consider this Hair Freedom For All scholarship. Like Beauty Changes Lives, this one is for BIPOC Cosmetology Students and BIPOC licensed professionals, supporting either their cosmetology school education or continuing education. The application deadline is December 31, 2024.
5. Kendall Ong Memorial Scholarship
Three $500 scholarships will be awarded to licensed cosmetologists, from Kendall Ong Memorial, for continuing education in the industry. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2024.
6. Beauty Schools Directory $2,500 Cosmetology Scholarship
The BeautySchoolsDirectory.com team offers a $2,500 scholarship for students and professionals in the wellness and beauty industry. If you are starting or continuing your beauty and wellness career and want to ease your tuition and education expenses, consider applying for cosmetology grants for single mothers here.
7. Keller Cosmetology Scholarship
Keller International offers a cosmetology scholarship annually to help lessen the financial load for one student. The chosen student will receive $1,000.00 towards their tuition. This scholarship is available to both cosmetology and barber students.
8. Massage Envy Scholarship
The Massage Envy National Scholarship Sweepstakes for Massage Therapists awards eight $2,500 cosmetology grants for single mothers each month. These can be used at any massage school. The scholarships are available from October 2023 through September 2024.
9. Buy-Rite Beauty Annual Cosmetology Scholarship
This scholarship by Buy-Rite Beauty offers $1,000 to students pursuing a cosmetology degree. Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in a beautician/cosmetology program. For more information, interested students can check the Buy-Rite website.
10. Rosy Salon Software Cosmetology Scholarship
The ROSY REWARDS scholarship program by Rosy Salon Software offers a $10,000 annual fund exclusively for aspiring salon professionals. If you are a Cosmetology student with a passion for the industry, this is your chance to win one of the 12 cosmetology grants for single mothers awarded each year quarterly.
Two $250 scholarships are available for students currently in a cosmetology, barber, or esthetics program in the US or Canada, leading to a respective license. Emphasizing diversity and inclusivity, Rosy Salon Software commits to awarding at least half of these scholarships to minority students. The application deadline is October 1, 2024.
11. Six Inch Shears Scholarship
This scholarship program will grant two $500 scholarships. It’s designed for students currently enrolled in a program that leads to a barber license or for licensed cosmetologists returning to school for their barber license. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2024.
12. Great Clips Great Scholarship Program
Established in memory of Alice Madden Barton, the Great Scholarship program, annually provides over $100,000 in financial aid. It’s aimed at students who are single mothers in North America pursuing cosmetology careers, helping with tuition costs. Alice Madden Barton recognized the growth and financial stability a cosmetology career can offer. To extend this opportunity to more “young folks”, Ray and Rhoda, the Chairman and Co-Chair of the Board at Great Clips, initiated this program in her honor.
The fall scholarship application period runs from March 2 to September 1, with recipients notified by October 31 at the latest. Great Clips, Inc. sponsors these scholarships. Funded by Great Clips, Inc., this national recruiting program awards twenty-two $5,000 scholarships annually across the United States and Canada.
Applications are accepted all year. Students should complete an application and essay at greatclipscareers.com/scholarships or by texting “SCHOLARSHIP” to 98765.
13. Milady Rise Scholarship
We also have the Milady Rise cosmetology grants for single mothers. This is actually a scholarship for TEN people who will each receive a $500 Milady RISE Scholarship, managed by the Professional Beauty Association.
Milady’s goal is to ensure career success, and this scholarship is exclusively for Milady RISE-certified people, including single mothers, who understand their potential impact in the industry. The next application period opens on March 1, 2024. Be sure to get Milady RISE Certified in Client Well-Being & Safety to be ready to apply.
14. PBA Lifetime Member
PBA Lifetime Member Scholarships are for current PBA Preferred and Student Members. They can use these scholarships for either continuing education or cosmetology school. In 2022, five scholarships, each worth $1,000, will be awarded. The application deadline is March 31, 2024.
15. Vidal Sassoon Basic Professional Beauty Education Scholarship
The Vidal scholarship stands out as one of the largest in the cosmetology field. Twice a year, in the spring and fall, 10 winners receive scholarships covering 50 percent of their tuition at an eligible cosmetology college. Single moms are particularly encouraged to apply.
These are among the numerous makeup scholarships available to single moms. It’s crucial to thoroughly understand all the rules before applying. It’s disappointing to write an essay and get your Letters of Recommendation, only to discover you’re not eligible. Naturally, applying to more scholarships increases your chances of selection. You might even be fortunate enough to receive more than one scholarship. Best of luck!
Other cosmetology grants for single mothers to consider include:
- Sally Beauty Supply Scholarships
- OPI Scholarships
- Maureen Baldwin Cosmetology Scholarship
- Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts Makeup Scholarship
- NCEA Esthetician Scholarship
- Joe Francis Hair-Care Scholarship Foundation
- Oregon Student Assistance Commission
- Vernon’s Kansas School of Cosmetology
- John Pelloni Memorial Scholarship
- Pat Goins Memorial Scholarship
- “Education Rocks” Scholarship
- Minnesota’s Model College of Hair Design
- AHBAI Scholarship – AHBAI
- Dream Shears/Trade Essentials Scholarship
- Massage Magazine
- Walla Walla Community College, Washington
Steps to Get Grants as a Single Mother
- Choose a cosmetology school that matches your qualifications and ask about their grants for single mothers.
- Get involved with grant programs supported by corporations in your community and seek their assistance.
- Consider applying for a grant from The American Cosmetology Education (ACE) Grant, which is part of the American Association of Cosmetology.
- Look into government programs such as the FSEOG (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), FSL (Federal Stafford Loan), FPLUS (Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students), and the Federal Pell Grant. These federal and state organizations offer financial aid to undergraduate students who aim to complete their degrees or acquire additional certificates from vocational or technical schools.
How Much Do Cosmetologists Make?
According to Salary.com’s 2024 data, a cosmetologist’s average basic income ranged from $28,301 to $41,901 with an average base salary of $34,101. This depends on factors such as the following:
- Where they work
- The economic status of their clients, and
- Level of skill
This figure doesn’t include tips.
For example, a well-known stylist working in a city with wealthy clients might earn double or triple compared to a stylist working in a rural area, largely due to larger tips. The key to a cosmetologist’s success is to excel in their art and use their skills to secure positions at high-end beauty clinics. Single mothers often find that a career as a cosmetologist or stylist suits them well.
Since studying cosmetology isn’t cheap and the fees can run into several thousand dollars, you must really prioritize applying for cosmetology grants for single mothers.
Conclusion
A career in cosmetology brings great opportunities out there. If you excel in your skills, you might also be sought after by beauty product companies to work as a consultant. After you complete your cosmetology course, you can seek employment at large or exclusive beauty clinics or salons. If you need to advance your career, you can take advanced courses in areas such as aromatherapy, massage therapy, film and theater makeup artistry, or any other field where your talents would be valuable.
Read also: Get Paid to Go to School Single Mothers
