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Cosmetology Scholarships 2026: Fall Deadlines and Next Up
Some fall 2026 cosmetology scholarship deadlines have already passed, and several close by November 30. We re-checked every award on the funder's own page on October 12, 2026, and list what is open, what passed, and what opens next.
Quick answer: As of October 12, 2026, the Great Clips fall deadline and Rosy Rewards' October 1 date have passed. Still open: PBA Minerva (October 15), Beauty Changes Lives and Schwarzkopf (October 31), Buy-Rite (November 1), Milady RISE (November 15), and Moroccanoil (November 30). Great Clips spring applications are open now.
Updated October 2026. Deadlines, amounts, and eligibility change often, and we checked these on October 12, 2026. Confirm every detail on the sponsor's page before you apply.
Beauty school is not cheap. Milady (February 2025) puts the total, with kit and licensing fees, between $15,000 and $20,000, with a national average of about $16,251. SoFi (March 2026) says most programs cost under $20,000.
This post replaces our September version. Some deadlines in it have since passed, and a few details from third-party listings did not hold up against the funder's own page. We say so below.
What Has Already Passed
| Scholarship | Date | Status on October 12, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Great Clips, fall award | September 1, 2026 | Passed. Fall recipients are notified by October 31, per Great Clips |
| Rosy Rewards (two small awards a year) | October 1 | Passed, and unconfirmed for 2026. Rosy's page still shows "October 1, 2025" as the next deadline |
| Sallie, Be Bold, and similar drawings | September 30, 2026 | Passed. Sallie's list now shows October 31 dates |
Rosy Rewards is not a no-essay award, as our September post said. SoFi lists a letter of recommendation, a resume, and two photos of your work.
Open Now: Closing Between October 15 and November 30
| Scholarship | Amount | Deadline | What it asks for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBA Minerva Beauty Scholarship | One $2,000 student award | October 15, 2026 | Enrolled in good standing in cosmetology, nails, barbering, esthetics, or massage |
| Beauty Changes Lives, fall season | $1,500 to $20,000 across 14 listings | October 31, 2026 | Proof of enrollment, a head shot, and a short video |
| Schwarzkopf Shaping Futures | Five at $2,000 | October 31, 2026 | Age 18+, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, enrolled in cosmetology or hairstyling |
| Buy-Rite Beauty School Scholarship | $1,000, paid to your school | November 1, 2026 (11:59 pm EST) | A 500 to 1,000 word essay on your most meaningful achievement |
| Milady RISE | Five $500 awards for students | November 15, 2026 | Milady RISE certification; enrolled in good standing |
| Moroccanoil Scholarship | Five at $2,500 | November 30, 2026 | Cosmetology student at an independent, non-brand school; age 18+ |
Sources: Professional Beauty Association (page modified October 1, 2026), Beauty Changes Lives (modified September 3, 2026), and Buy-Rite Beauty.
Beauty Changes Lives is the biggest. Its fall season runs September 1 to October 31, and the page lists 14 scholarships and 30 awards, from the Jerry Alexander Gorman Foundation to K18's $20,000 Future of Hair awards. Applicants upload proof of enrollment, a head shot, and a video, and the FAQ is blunt: "Applications cannot be accepted after the due date." Third-party listings disagree on award counts and amounts, so trust the funder's page.
Two cautions. The David Waters Endowed Scholarship ($500 in our September post) is a San Jacinto College award for students there, due October 30, with amounts that vary. And PBA's Premiere Anaheim award (due November 16) is free admission to a trade show, not cash.
Coming Next: Winter and Spring 2027
| Scholarship | Amount | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beauty Changes Lives, winter season | Varies | Window December 1 to January 31 | The 2027 lineup was not posted on October 12 |
| Great Clips, spring award | Up to $5,000 tuition reimbursement | March 1, 2027 | Essay; open for applications now |
| Beauty & Wellness Professionals Scholarship | $2,500 | March 1, 2027 | A video of three minutes or less |
| Huffstutter Family Stylist Scholarship | Not listed | March 1, 2027 | Oregon or Washington residents at Oregon schools only |
| Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship | At least $3,000 | Expected June 1, 2027 | Cosmetology or barber students; esthetics and nails not eligible |
Beauty Changes Lives, winter. Last winter's list, from its winter 2026 PDF, included three Paul Mitchell Schools awards at $3,500 and a $15,000 Miller Foundation award. Treat that as a preview, not a promise.
Great Clips awards more than $100,000 a year to cosmetology and barbering students in the U.S. and Canada, and the spring period runs September 2 to March 1, with recipients notified by April 30. It judges essays on "quality, originality, authenticity, and impact."
Dates that differ by source. The Beauty & Wellness Professionals sponsor says March 1, 2027, while Peterson's and Sallie say March 2. Joe Francis's own page shows June 1, 2026 as its latest date and an application window of January 1 to June 1 each year, so June 1, 2027 is our expectation, not a confirmed date. For Huffstutter, OSAC says 2027-28 applications open November 1, 2026, but the March 1 date comes from CollegeData, not OSAC.
The Big Drawings
Scholarships360 (updated October 9, 2026) lists sponsored drawings: Niche's $40,000 on October 15, and Sallie's $2,000 on October 31. They are random drawings, so enter them as a quick extra and spend real effort on awards aimed at beauty students.
What to Say in a Short Essay
- Start with a moment, not a mission statement. The first set of nails you finished tells a reader more than "I have always loved beauty"
- Be specific. Textured hair, acne-prone skin, or opening a nail studio all sound more prepared than "I want to work in beauty"
- Say what the money would do. A kit and exam fees are honest answers
- Proofread it, and have someone you trust read it first
How to Apply Without Losing a Weekend
- Put every deadline in your calendar today, including the spring ones
- Write one strong story about why you chose beauty, then adapt it for each award
- Apply to the closest deadlines first, starting with PBA Minerva on October 15
- Keep proof of enrollment ready. Most awards ask for it
- Ask your school whether it has its own scholarships, and check our guide to how to pay for beauty school
Stack It With Other Help
- Federal aid. The Department of Education opened the 2027-28 FAFSA in September, ABC News 4 reported on September 23, 2026. Ask your school whether your program is aid-eligible
- WIOA. The U.S. Department of Labor says WIOA Adult funds support training through American Job Centers, and CareerOneStop says services vary by state
A $500 award will not cover tuition, but it can cover exam fees. In Texas, TDLR charges $50 to apply and PSI charges $55 for the written and $76 for the practical exam (January 2026), $181 in total by our arithmetic.
Start Earning While You Study
Scholarships pay for school. The other half is earning from it. If you are enrolled in a beauty program, a free Primzy student profile gives you a booking page to hand to practice clients. It is open to any enrolled student in any specialty, and it is booking-only.
How to Decide What to Apply For
If you have 10 minutes today: Apply for PBA Minerva, which closes October 15.
If you have a weekend: Write one honest essay and use it for Buy-Rite (November 1), then record your Beauty Changes Lives video (October 31).
If you are in esthetics, nails, or barbering: Scan the Beauty Changes Lives list first. It has awards for your specialty.
If you missed Great Clips' September 1 deadline: Apply for the spring award by March 1, 2027.
If you need more than scholarships can cover: Talk to your financial aid office about federal aid and WIOA before you borrow.
Ready to start earning? Start free on Primzy and see every feature.
Related Reading
- How to pay for beauty school: aid, loans, and payment plans beyond scholarships
- Free resources for beauty school students: no-cost tools and education
- Cosmetology student kit cost: what your kit adds to the bill
- How to choose a beauty school: compare total cost before you enroll
Sources
- Beauty Changes Lives, "Scholarships & Opportunities" (last modified September 3, 2026)
- Beauty Changes Lives, "FAQ" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Beauty Changes Lives, "Winter 2026 Scholarships" (PDF, December 2025)
- Professional Beauty Association, "Scholarships & Professional Development" (last modified October 1, 2026)
- Great Clips, "Scholarship Application" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Buy-Rite Beauty, "Scholarships" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship Foundation, "Apply" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BeautySchoolsDirectory.com, "Cosmetology School Scholarships" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Peterson's, "Beauty & Wellness Professionals Scholarship" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion, "Scholarships" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CollegeData, "Huffstutter Family Stylist Scholarship" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- San Jacinto College, "David Waters Endowed Scholarship Fund" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Rosy Salon Software, "Rosy Scholarship Program" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SoFi, "Top Cosmetology Scholarships in 2026" (March 19, 2026)
- Sallie, "Cosmetology Scholarships" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Scholarships360, "Top Cosmetology Scholarships" (October 9, 2026)
- Milady, "How Much Is Cosmetology School?" (February 5, 2025)
- ABC News 4, "FAFSA opens earlier than ever" (September 23, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor, "WIOA Adult Program" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CareerOneStop, "Find Money for Training" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, "Apply for a Cosmetology Operator License" (accessed October 12, 2026)
- PSI, "Cosmetology Operator License Examination Candidate Information Bulletin" (January 1, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What cosmetology scholarships are still open after October 12, 2026?
The PBA Minerva Beauty Scholarship closes October 15, Beauty Changes Lives' fall season and Schwarzkopf's Shaping Futures close October 31, and Buy-Rite closes November 1, according to each funder's page. Milady RISE closes November 15 and Moroccanoil closes November 30, per the Professional Beauty Association.
Has the Great Clips scholarship deadline passed?
The fall award deadline of September 1, 2026 has passed, with fall recipients notified by October 31. Great Clips' own page says spring applications run from September 2 to March 1, 2027, and awards go up to $5,000 in tuition.
Are there cosmetology scholarships with no essay?
A few drawings skip the essay, such as Sallie's $2,000 giveaway due October 31, per Sallie. The beauty-specific awards we checked ask for something: Buy-Rite wants a 500 to 1,000 word essay, and Beauty Changes Lives and the Beauty & Wellness Professionals Scholarship want a video of about three minutes.
When does Beauty Changes Lives accept applications?
Its site lists four seasons: spring March 1 to April 30, summer June 1 to July 31, fall September 1 to October 31, and winter December 1 to January 31. The page was last modified September 3, 2026, and the winter lineup for 2027 had not been posted when we checked.
Can esthetics and nail tech students apply for beauty scholarships?
Many can, but not all. Beauty Changes Lives lists esthetics and nail technology awards this fall, while the Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship says esthetician and nail training students are not eligible. Read each award's eligibility line before you spend time on an application.
What else can help pay for cosmetology school?
Ask your school's financial aid office about federal aid and its own scholarships; the 2027-28 FAFSA opened in September 2026, per ABC News 4. The U.S. Department of Labor says WIOA Adult funds can pay for training through American Job Centers, with eligibility set locally. Never pay a fee to apply for a scholarship.
