Within an increasingly saturated environment of buzzy brands, content creators and major industry players, entering the beauty sphere as an aspiring professional is no small feat. Newcomers often face plenty of barriers to entry, specifically securing much-needed funding for their beauty-based educations, cosmetology programs or required licensures. In the U.S., most cosmetology school programs cost less than $20,000 to complete, compared to the average full-time in-state college student paying approximately $11,610 in tuition for the 2024-2025 school year, according to CollegeBoard data.
But it’s in major beauty brands’ best interest to help foster the next generation of talent. So of course, plenty of companies seek to do so through specialized program grants, school-exclusive scholarships and national sweepstakes. There’s a scholarship avenue for every beauty-related skill set, including brand building, hairstyling, makeup artistry, esthetics, fragrance formulation, massage therapy and more. Some scholarships —such as Milk Makeup’s Visionary Fund Scholarship (in partnership with the Fashion School Fund) — offer specific opportunities for BIPOC students exploring digital branding and marketing, while others — like Dermalogica’s Future Industry Professionals Esthetics Scholarship — are geared toward those pursuing a career in cosmetology.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up a list of beauty-centric scholarships that are available now for students venturing into the industry — many of which are currently accepting applications. We’ll continue to update this list as more scholarships become available.
Brand-Sponsored Scholarships
Dermalogica Elevate Your Education Scholarship
Next Deadline: March 1, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be students who are within two months of graduation or licensed skin therapists who have been in the industry for less than one year. (Those not yet licensed are limited to Product Expert workshops until license is obtained.)
Amount: Each scholarship covers the Expert Program workshops (a value of over $1,400), or Product Expert Program workshops, depending on professional license status.
How to apply: Download the application form here.
Dermalogica Future Industry Professionals Esthetics Scholarship
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), must be a currently enrolled (or a newly accepted student) in a Dermalogica Partner School leading to licensure in the U.S. and must be at least 18 years old by the start date of the program at the accredited school/institution.
Amount: $5,000
How to apply: Visit here to complete an application and submit a video.
Douglas J’s Natural Talent Scholarship
Next Deadline: March 1, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be high school seniors interested in the beauty industry. The Natural Talent Scholarship Contest is a two-phase contest. Applicants must submit an application in the first phase, and if they are selected as a finalist, they will compete in the second phase where they will style a before-and-after look on a model of their choosing.
Amount: First place receives a $5,000 scholarship and the runner-up receives a $2,000 scholarship. All participants who enter the Natural Talent Scholarship Contest will receive a $1,000 scholarship, and each scholarship can be used for a 2025 Cosmetology or Barber program at Douglas J Aveda Institute.
How to apply: Visit here to apply for the first phase.
Great Clips Scholarship
Next Deadline: March 1, 2025. Recipients notified by no later than April 30.
Qualifications: Applicants must be at least 16 years old, legal residents of the U.S. or Canada (excluding Quebec) and enrolled in a cosmetology or barbering program.
Amount: Up to $5,000 each. ($100,000 awarded in scholarships.)
How to apply: Visit here to submit an application and essay answering the prompt: “What is exciting to you about a career in the cosmetology or barbering industry? Why?”
Hydrafacial Glow Getter Esthetics Student Scholarship
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the start date of the program and must be a student accepted to or currently enrolled in an esthetics program in an accredited school/institution that leads to licensure in the U.S. and Canada or a student accepted to or currently enrolled in an esthetics program in a Hydrafacial School Partnership Program School, leading to licensure in the U.S. and Canada.
Amount: One $5,000 scholarship for an aspiring esthetician enrolled in a licensed esthetics program and one $5,000 scholarship for an aspiring esthetician enrolled at a Hydrafacial Partner School.
How to apply: Visit here to submit an application and a video.
Massage Envy Scholarship
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025. (The entire sweepstakes period ends on Dec. 31, 2025. There will be 12 separate drawings for each month of 2025. There is a limit of one entry per person per drawing. See the entire schedule of drawings here.)
Qualifications: For students interested in pursuing an education in massage therapy school, applicants must be at least 18 years old as of date of entry and a legal resident of the U.S.
Amount: 96 winners will be awarded $2,500 each.
How to apply: Visit here.
Milk Makeup Visionary Fund Scholarship
Next Deadline: Oct. 13, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST
Qualifications: Applicants must be a full-time sophomore, junior or senior (graduating Spring 2026) and must attend a four-year college or university located in the United States. To receive Milk Makeup’s named scholarship from the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF), applicants must pursue disciplines or courses of study relevant to Milk Makeup, make innovative case study presentations in the areas of Digital Branding + Marketing and must identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color).
Amount: Two scholarships of $10,000 each.
How to apply: The 2026 FSF Case Study briefs will be published on Feb. 1, 2025. Contact your school’s FSF Educator Partner or the FSF team for more information.
Sugarlash Pro Lash Mastery Scholarship Esthetics/Cosmetology Scholarship
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be a currently enrolled or newly accepted student in an accredited school/institution cosmetology/esthetics program, leading to licensure in the U.S. or Canada, and must be at least 18 years old by the start date of the program.
Amount: $1,500. (Students currently accepted and enrolled in a cosmetology or esthetics program at a Sugarlash Pro Partner School will receive an additional $1,000 toward their tuition.)
How to apply: Visit here to complete an application and submit a video.
General Scholarships
Arnold M. Miller Find A Way Cosmetology Scholarship
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025
Qualifications: The scholarship is open to new and current students enrolled in a cosmetology program. Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the start date of the program at the accredited school or institution. Students must provide proof of acceptance and/or attendance at an accredited school or institution.
Amount: Up to $15,000.
How to apply: Visit here to upload three photos of work examples and a video essay.
Beauty & Wellness Professionals Scholarship
Next Deadline: March 1, 2025
Qualifications: Must be a full-time or part-time student currently enrolled in an eligible program, a prospective student planning to enroll in an eligible program before the scholarship deadline and a U.S. resident (including DACA recipients and international students). Students of all ages are eligible (must have parental consent if under 18 years old).
Amount: $2,500
How to apply: Visit here to complete an application and submit a video essay.
“Find Your Passion Scholarship” Esthetics Student Scholarship funded by Lisa VanBockern, Founder of Skin Script Skin Care
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be a new or currently enrolled student in an esthetics program in an accredited school or institution in the U.S. and must be at least 18 years old by the start date of the program.
Amount: One $5,000 award, one $3,000 award and five $2,000 awards.
How to apply: Visit here to submit an application and video.
Miller Family Foundation Art of Hair Coloring Scholarship
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be students interested in hair coloring, a new or currently enrolled student in a cosmetology program that leads to licensure at an accredited school/institution in the U.S. and at least 18 years old by the start date of the program.
Amount: Up to $5,000.
How to apply: Visit here to complete an application, submit three photos of your hair coloring work and upload a video essay.
Miller Family Foundation Art of Hair Cutting Scholarship
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be interested in hair cutting, a new or currently enrolled student in a cosmetology program that leads to licensure at an accredited school/institution in the U.S. and at least 18 years old by the start date of the program.
Amount: Up to $5,000.
How to apply: Visit here to submit an application as well as upload three photos of hair cutting work examples and a video essay.
Miller Family Foundation Art of Hair Dressing Scholarship
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be interested in hair dressing (ex: bridal, prom styling and special occasion hair), a new or currently enrolled student in a cosmetology program that leads to licensure at an accredited school/institution in the U.S. and at least 18 years old by the start date of the program.
Amount: Up to $5,000.
How to apply: Visit here to complete an application, upload three photos of hair dressing work examples and submit a video essay.
Rosy Rewards Scholarship Program
Next Deadline: Oct. 1, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be currently enrolled in a cosmetology, barber or esthetics program in the U.S. or Canada resulting in a cosmetology, barber or esthetics license.
Amount: Two $250 scholarships.
How to apply: Submit a letter of recommendation, a resume and two pictures of your work in your application. Visit here to apply.
Sydell L. Miller Total Image Esthetics Scholarship
Next Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025
Qualifications: Applicants must be a new or currently enrolled student in an esthetics program that leads to licensure at an accredited school/institution in the U.S. and at least 18 years old by the start of the program.
Amount: Two tuition scholarships of up to $7,500 each.
How to apply: Visit here to complete an application, submit two before-and-after photos of an esthetics treatment and upload a video essay.
Source: Fashionista.com
