Esthetician and Nail Tech Scholarships for 2027: Open Dates

Quick answer

As of 2026-11-06, three scholarships for esthetics or nail technology students have deadlines ahead: Milady RISE ($500, due November 15, 2026), the Premiere trade-show scholarships (free admission, first due November 16) and the ASCP Scholarship Sweepstakes ($5,000 per quarterly drawing, skin care only). The bigger awards run through Beauty Changes Lives, whose winter window opens December 1. Apply to everything you qualify for, and ask your school about Pell, which depends on program length.

Each program below was read on the funder's own page in early November 2026. Deadlines move, so confirm first.

Scholarships with a deadline still ahead

Program (funder)	Amount	Who qualifies	Deadline	Page
Milady RISE Scholarship (Milady, administered by PBA)	Five $500 awards for students, plus five for licensed professionals	Students 18+ and U.S. citizens in esthetics, nail tech, cosmetology, barbering or massage programs; read the terms for other rules	November 15, 2026	PBA
Premiere student scholarships (My Salon Suite Suite Relief Scholarship Program, with PBA)	Free trade-show admission, no cash (75 passes at Anaheim)	Enrolled in an esthetics, nail, cosmetology, barbering or massage licensing program in the U.S. or Canada, age 16+	Anaheim November 16, 2026; Orlando March 15, 2027; San Antonio June 7, 2027; Columbus June 21, 2027	PBA
ASCP Scholarship Sweepstakes (Associated Skin Care Professionals)	$5,000 per quarterly drawing, plus $5,000 to your school if it accepts	Age 18+, enrolled in a state-approved U.S. skin care program, with a U.S. tax ID	Quarterly entry periods; the rules list October 1 to December 31 and January 1 to March 31	ASCP
Rick Boden Healer at Heart Scholarship (AMTA), massage only	$10,000, one student	Enrolled in a massage therapy program that meets licensure rules where you live or will practice	November 30, 2026 (recipient announced January 2027)	AMTA

Cautions from the pages themselves:

• PBA's page was last modified on November 4, 2026 (PBA, "Scholarships"). The earlier Milady round closed May 15, 2026 with five $500 student awards, so a spring 2027 round is likely (PBA, "Milady Scholarship Terms May 2026").
• The ASCP prize is a random drawing. Entering means agreeing to join ASCP's Student Network, and the rules contradict themselves on the entry period (quarterly in one section, March 1 to February 28 in another), so read them first (ASCP, "Official Rules" (modified April 3, 2025)).
• AMTA's page says "through November 30," and its 2026 form confirms November 30, 2026 (AMTA, "2026 Boden scholarship application").

For cosmetology awards, see the earlier scholarship list.

Watch list: awards not posted for 2027 yet

Beauty Changes Lives (BCL). BCL prints four windows a year: winter December 1 to January 31, spring March 1 to April 30, summer June 1 to July 31, and fall September 1 to October 31. Its scholarships page showed no individual awards in early November (BCL, "Scholarships & Opportunities"). Esthetics and nail awards on the last two calendars:

• Fall 2026 (closed October 31, 2026): Circadia "Timing is Everything" esthetics, $5,000 (three awards); Dermalogica Future Industry Professionals, $5,000; Hand & Stone x Image Skincare esthetics, $2,500; I NAILS nail technology, $1,500; Jerry Alexander Gorman Foundation esthetics/nail tech, $3,500 (two awards) (BCL, "Fall 2026 Scholarships").
• Winter 2026 (December 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026): Miller Foundation Total Image esthetics, $7,500 (two awards); Hydrafacial Glow Getter esthetics, $5,000 (two awards); "Find Your Passion" esthetics, up to $5,000; OPI "OPI'm Dreaming" nail technology, $1,500 (three awards) (BCL, "Winter 26 Scholarships").

Funders can change these. BCL's FAQ says you need proof of acceptance or enrollment and can apply to any award you qualify for, but can only be awarded one student scholarship (BCL, "FAQ").

PBA programs with no 2027 dates yet. The MY SALON Suite Scholarship had ten $1,500 student awards for esthetics, nail, barbering and massage students, with a student deadline of August 15, 2026 (PBA, "MY SALON Suite Scholarship Terms 2026"). It is closed, so check PBA's page for the next round.

Federal aid, Workforce Pell and state grants

FAFSA and Pell. Federal Student Aid announced on September 3, 2026 that the 2027-28 FAFSA would be on fafsa.gov by October 1, 2026, and the announcement states no federal filing deadline (FSA Partner Connect (September 3, 2026)). The maximum Pell Grant for 2026-27 is $7,395 (FSA, GEN-26-01 (January 30, 2026, updated February 18, 2026)).

Program length matters for both specialties. Before the 2025 law change, Pell required programs of at least 15 weeks and 600 clock hours.

Workforce Pell, which started July 1, 2026, covers programs of at least 150 and under 600 clock hours over at least 8 and under 15 weeks (Congressional Research Service, "Workforce Pell Grants" (June 23, 2026)). Only programs that governors and state workforce boards approve qualify, and the Department of Education's release does not mention beauty programs (U.S. Department of Education (reviewed May 18, 2026)). Ask your school which rule applies to your program.

WIOA training money. The Department of Labor says American Job Center staff using WIOA Adult funds must prioritize public assistance recipients, other low-income people and people who are basic skills deficient (U.S. Department of Labor, "WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Program"). CareerOneStop says services vary by state, so contact your local center (CareerOneStop). Use the American Job Center finder.

State grants. Rules differ by state and some programs cover only hair or cosmetology, so ask your school and your state aid agency what applies where you live.

Stack your aid, and know the tax rule

A workable order: file the FAFSA, call your American Job Center, then apply to scholarships starting with the nearest deadline. Ask your school how outside awards are applied to your balance and whether one can cover your kit (see the student kit cost breakdown and free resources for students).

The IRS says scholarship money used for required tuition and fees, books, supplies and equipment is generally tax-free for a degree candidate, while room, board and travel are taxable (IRS, "Topic no. 421" (reviewed September 24, 2026)).

Publication 970 says a degree candidate can be a student at an accredited school that offers training for gainful employment in a recognized occupation (IRS, "Publication 970 (2025)"). Confirm with a tax professional before you assume yours is tax-free.

Avoid scholarship scams

The Federal Trade Commission lists these warning signs: a guarantee or "money back," a fee to apply or "process" the award, a request for your card or bank number to "hold" a scholarship, and a "finalist" notice for a contest you never entered.

Fill out the FAFSA yourself, never share your FSA ID, and report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (FTC (updated December 18, 2025)). Apply only through the funder links above.

One free tool while you study

Primzy gives enrolled beauty students a free pro account. It is free until the expected graduation date you enter or the end of the 30-day free trial, whichever is later. You choose your school and a future graduation date yourself, students cannot use Salon Mode, and until payout setup is finished a student can publish only school services. See the free student account page.

For after graduation, see how to start an esthetician business or a nail business, what cosmetologists make and grants for beauty professionals.

Pick your next step

• If you are in an esthetics program, enter the ASCP drawing, apply for Milady RISE by November 15, and put December 1 on your calendar for the Beauty Changes Lives winter window.
• If you are in a nail program, apply for Milady RISE and a Premiere scholarship (Anaheim is due November 16), then ask your school whether your program is long enough for Pell.
• If money is tight, call your American Job Center this week and file the FAFSA.
• If you want to see how a booking page works for your specialty, browse the pages for estheticians and nail techs.
• If you are enrolled and want a free pro account before you graduate, start your account here (free until your expected graduation date or the end of the 30-day trial, whichever is later).