What Is the Beauty School Financial Aid Process Really Like? Experts and Students Weigh In
If you're considering beauty school, thinking about how to pay for it may make you feel overwhelmed. Like any other type of trade school or college, beauty school is a big financial commitment both now and into your future. Even though many beauty schools offer financial aid to help their students afford to attend, there’s not usually a lot of detail shared about what to expect in that whole process. You deserve to know the real deal.
Here, you'll be able to read about real beauty students' experiences with financial aid and hear from staff who work in cosmetology school financial aid offices. These interviews allowed us to share some common challenges that arise in the financial aid process and how you might be able to combat them.
Meet the beauty students and financial aid experts we interviewed or continue reading below.
Meet the Students & Experts
Delecia Holmes
Cosmetology Operator student, Northeast Texas Community College. @theknotlessbabe on YouTube and TikTok
Karla Maiden-Vazquez
Cosmetology graduate, The Temple - Annapolis
Ashley Magoffin
Cosmetology student, Paul Mitchell The School - Sherman Oaks
Kathy Breslin
Senior Director of Financial Assistance, Empire Education Group
Kathy has over thirty-three years’ experience in the Financial Assistance Department and is a graduate of Empire Beauty School's Harrisburg, PA location.
Nedina Ochoa
Director of Admissions, Capri Beauty College
Nedina Ochoa is the Director of Admissions at Capri Beauty College. She has nearly 30 years’ experience in post-secondary education. She has continually built strong relationships with prospective students and their families making the Admissions process uncomplicated.
Yuki Nguyen
Financial Aid Administrator, Turning Point Beauty College - Phoenix
Yuki Nguyen has been a licensed cosmetologist for three years and helping students with financial aid for five years.
Leticia McGraugh
Senior Financial Aid Administrator, Turning Point Beauty College - Chandler
Leticia McGraugh has been a licensed cosmetologist for 15 years and instructor for seven years.
Britney Wald
Marketing & Recruiting Director, Turning Point Beauty College - Phoenix and Chandler
Britney Wald has been a licensed cosmetologist for 20 years, with licensure in four states.
What Beauty School Financial Aid Advisors Do
Financial aid advisors at beauty schools exist to help incoming students find ways to afford beauty school and apply for them, as well as assist current students in continuing their studies without interruption. Some schools offer staff assistance after graduation, too.
Your school may have a whole financial aid department, one or two dedicated financial aid experts, or an administrator who pulls double duty. None of these possibilities is better than the others—it all comes down to the size of the school you attend.
Often, students are required to meet with financial aid staff before enrolling in cosmetology school. Even if you've saved up and plan to pay entirely out of pocket, this meeting can be helpful, as you'll learn about payment options (e.g., upfront payment in full or in installments) and possible scholarships and grants.
I talked to our financial advisor during the initial enrollment paperwork process about ways to pay for school. She was very helpful in laying out my options and helping me find and complete any paperwork I needed to do. She explained the terms and conditions of my financial aid as well as for enrollment."
Biggest Beauty School Financial Aid Challenges
Students and financial aid experts talked to us about what they find to be the most challenging part of the financial aid process. The school reps have worked with hundreds of students and discovered patterns, so if you relate to their findings, you know you're not alone! Having a student perspective is also crucial as they can speak from the perspective of someone trying to start their new life.
We should point out that the financial aid experts found the biggest, most common challenge affects those considered dependent students; however, the students who responded to our interview questions were financially independent students when they went through this process. If there is any hiccup in your financial aid process, it may differ based on your situation.
In addition, many of these challenges refer to the process of qualifying for federal financial aid, which is only offered for students of qualifying programs at accredited institutions. Many beauty schools—including well-run ones that are approved by the state to offer their programs for licensure—are actually not accredited, which means that students are not eligible for federal financial aid. However, such schools may still offer other forms of financial aid or have a staff member to advise on how to help afford tuition and living costs.
Beauty School Financial Aid Officers: What Is the Biggest Challenge for Students?
Here’s one of the biggest hurdles that financial aid officers face: Dependent students don't know their parents' income matters when it comes to financial aid, even if their parents aren't providing any funding for school or daily life.
Students are considered dependents until they turn 24 unless they are parents themselves, get married, join the military, or meet another narrow standard. If they don't meet one of those qualifications, they need their parents' income information when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as FAFSA. And yes, the government factors that money into how much aid students qualify for—even if their parents are out of their lives.
A lot of individuals are under the belief that if they're self-sufficient, they do not need their parents' assistance. Unfortunately, that's not the case…. Say you're 21 years old and living on your own. [Students] may assume it's all on them and that their parents are not involved in [the financial aid process. But the parent would also then need to provide their federal tax information on the FAFSA.
There are questions on the FAFSA that determine if a student is classified as a dependent student, which would require parental information, or an independent student [which would not]."
— Kathy Breslin, Senior Director of Financial Assistance for Empire Beauty Schools
I have a young lady now; she just started with me [at Capri Beauty College]. She's 21, and she does not live with Mom. Mom has a nice, cushy income. So, the poor girl doesn't qualify for any aid as far as grants are concerned. Mom says, 'I don't provide for her.' I get it, but according to the federal government, she's your responsibility until she's 24, has a child, or becomes married. So that's always been the discrepancy."
— Nedina Ochoa, Director of Admissions, Capri Beauty College
The FAFSA has some considerations for special circumstances where those who would typically need their parents' tax information can't get it. To be frank, navigating those waters can be very complicated (even if both parents are deceased). While you should still try if you want a chance at qualifying for student aid, you need a backup plan.
I feel like the biggest change for students 25 and under is that they will need to use their parents' information. For students that are married or have children, this does not apply. I normally would tell the student to talk to their parents and let them know that the parent isn't responsible for the loan. If the parent is no longer in the student's life, I do advise them to contact FAFSA."
— Britney Wald, Marketing & Recruiting Director, Turning Point Beauty College– Phoenix and Chandler
Beyond that difficulty, they mentioned some students may have previously been given faulty information about how the FAFSA, federal aid, and Pell Grants work. This can lead to disappointment and even panic among potential students.
Beauty School Students: What Was Your Biggest Financial Aid Challenge?
Delecia Holmes, a cosmetology student at Northeast Texas Community College, says her biggest challenge was not having enough money to begin her beauty school education. She had saved up and earned a scholarship but was still about $2,000 short when she started—more or less the cost of her student kit. "If I'd properly planned, all my funds would have been paid out of pocket."
Meanwhile, Ashley Magoffin, a cosmetology student at Paul Mitchell The School – Sherman Oaks, told us that the time spent on scholarship applications—and the disappointments that can result from them—was a big challenge. "It was also discouraging because I never got a single [scholarship] besides a small one from the school. After getting rejection after rejection, I honestly stopped trying."
Finally, Karla Maiden-Vazquez, a cosmetology student at The Temple Annapolis, a Paul Mitchell partner school, spoke about trying to avoid taking on any further debt, as she had previously taken out loans for an undergraduate degree and was still in repayment.
Common Misconceptions and Challenges About Financial Aid
When it comes to student aid, there are a lot of things people think they know…but they actually don't because they were given incorrect information. Let's dispel some of those misconceptions.
Financial Aid Misconception #1
You don't have to worry about loan costs until after you graduate.
Reality: Though you may not have to repay your loan until after graduation, many federal loans start accumulating interest when you're in school—meaning you'll leave school owing more than you took out.
I wish all prospective students knew…more information about the borrowing process, loan repayment, interest and fees. They need to understand that if they borrow, they have to pay back."
— Yuki Nguyen, Financial Aid Advisor at Turning Point Beauty College - Phoenix
Financial Aid Misconception #2
Private loans are always a bad idea.
Reality: Though experts generally advise going through the federal aid process first if that is an option for you, if you can't fully cover the cost of school that way, a reasonable private loan may be better than not earning your education. Also, some schools offer private loans of their own. Just be sure to read all the fine print and ask questions before signing anything.
Financial Aid Misconception #3
Loan money can be used for whatever expenses you choose, and the money is immediately available to you.
Reality: Private and federal loans have restrictions on what they cover, and payments generally go directly to the school—not you. Even if the money ends up with you, there may still be rules about what you can purchase with it. Your loan is also unlikely to be paid out, either. Be sure to read all the fine print and be aware of deadlines!
A common misconception is that the money is theirs and that the money will be here in a couple of days. Also that the money comes as one lump sum when it is actually disbursed in small payments to the school."
— Leticia McGraugh, Senior Financial Aid Administrator at Turning Point Beauty College
Financial Aid Misconception #4
You don't need to repay your student loans if you didn't finish school.
Reality: You need to repay your lender under almost all circumstances—not finishing school doesn't mean you can avoid paying. (If you think you qualify for federal loan student cancellation, contact your loan servicer.)
Misconceptions About the FAFSA
There's a lot of wrong or conflicting information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the loans and grants that may result from determining your eligibility for them. Not knowing what to expect after applying for federal aid can result in unpleasant surprises. Here are a few common misconceptions about the FAFSA and how it works.
FASFA Misconception #1
Filling out the FAFSA means the government will pay your school costs.
Reality: Though the FAFSA may qualify you for some grants, it's still only an application. You should always assume you'll pay for a good chunk of your education out of pocket or with loans.
Students are like, 'I did the FAFSA. I know the free money is coming in.' No, you did the FAFSA, which is an application to see what you qualify for. That's all."
FASFA Misconception #2
The Pell Grant pays for 100% of your college costs.
Reality: The Pell Grant has limits. As of the 2023-2024 school year, the most you can get is $7,395. Even if you qualify for the Pell Grant, you may not be eligible for the total amount. While this could cover some beauty programs entirely, that's not always true.
A lot of the time, they go into it thinking their school is going to be completely free. They have been told that… everybody qualifies [for the Pell Grant]. Not everybody does even qualify for the Pell Grant."
FASFA Misconception #3
You can always get more funds by submitting the FAFSA.
Reality: There are limits to how much you can borrow, even if you are returning to school.
Due to the fact that I have a bachelor's degree, my [federal aid] funds have been exhausted. So, unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to use [these funds again]."
FASFA Misconception #4
All public student assistance is from the federal government.
Reality: Your state may offer some help with tuition or other expenses while you're in school. (You likely still need to fill out the FAFSA, though.)
FASFA Misconception #5
The FAFSA is hard to fill out.
Reality: The FAFSA's website has made the process more streamlined in recent years. Having all your required financial paperwork ready is half the battle.
The FAFSA website is super user-friendly, even on your phone. It walks you through the process step by step…. The taxes portion was probably the trickiest, but that is because taxes are confusing, not so much because of the FAFSA application itself. Most of the application is pretty straightforward."