Career Center - Paying for Massage or Beauty School

Paying for Massage or Beauty School

It may be easier than you think...

What you pay for school may vary widely depending on where you live, what profession you choose and how you intend to use your training. For example, you can take a one-day seminar to learn the basics of aromatherapy for $150, or you can enroll in a detailed training program that covers everything from the production and quality of essential oils to the anatomy and physiology of relevant body systems to become a certified aromatherapist.

Cost of Massage or Beauty School

The table below will give you a rough idea of what you can expect to pay for training in various massage and cosmetology professions.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Most schools offer financial aid and will work to help you find additional assistance if you need it. You may qualify for scholarships, low-interest loans or federal and state grants. Even if you don't qualify for aid or scholarships, many schools offer interest-free payment plans.

We've also provided the resources below to help you access additional aid. There are many loans, grants and scholarships available. It may take some work to figure out what you qualify for and to complete the applications, but the effort can pay off greatly towards funding your training and starting your new career.

Other Massage & Beauty Scholarship Resources

American Association of University Women
This association offers career development grants to women who hold a bachelor's degree and are preparing to advance their careers, change careers or re-enter the work force.

American Health & Beauty Aids Institute
This institute awards cosmetology scholarships of $250 and $500, with a total of $5,000 awarded annually.

American Specialty Health Scholarship
This scholarship program awards 12 annual scholarships of $500 to students pursuing alternative healing careers. The program is temporarily suspended but is expected to return in early 2008.

Jeanette Rankin Foundation
This nonprofit organization offers scholarships to low-income women, age 35 and older, who are pursuing a technical or vocational education, an associate's degree or a first bachelor's degree. The school must be accredited to be eligible for this program, so research whether the spa or beauty school of your choice is accredited.

Massage Magazine Scholarship Program
Massage Magazine awards $1,000 scholarships to five students of massage or touch therapy each year.

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation
This foundation provides Education Support Awards of up to $2,000 to assist low-income women with children who are pursuing education or training.

The Spa Foundation Scholarship
This scholarship program for spa, beauty and massage school students requires scholarship recipients to complete monthly assignments "that will help you to become a savvy and committed professional." This is a competitive spa scholarship resource with deadlines, so make sure you research whether or not you qualify for each program in a timely manner.

Soroptimist International for the Americas
This organization offers Women's Opportunity Awards for women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families. These are cash awards that can be used to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, including books, childcare and transportation.

Sunshine Lady Foundation
The foundation offers Women's Independence Scholarships to help survivors of domestic violence obtain an education that will help them secure employment, personal independence and self-sufficiency.

General Financial Aid & Student Loan Resources

Although most people don't like to take out loans, school loans are an investment in your future and job success. School loans have lower interest rates because the federal government regulates the maximum interest that lenders can charge on federally guaranteed student loans. So student loans are easier to pay back and help you invest in a massage or beauty career that offers more opportunities and better job satisfaction because of the knowledge and education expertise you bring to your career.

There are many different types of loans to help you finance massage or beauty school. Read below to find the option that best fits your massage or beauty school financing needs.

Stafford Loan

There are different types of loans, including a Stafford Loan, the most common federal student loan available. The Stafford Loan includes the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Both programs are dispersed directly to students, and can be subsidized or unsubsidized, depending on the student's financial situation. Loan amounts are also need-based, and will be distributed accordingly.

Private Loan

Another type of student loan is a private loan. These loans offer higher limits and no payments until graduation, but interest starts to accrue immediately after the loan is distributed. Private student loans can be made out to either students or parents and are a nice alternative to credit card debt.

You do need to complete federal forms, such as the FAFSA, to get private loans. Eligibility often depends on you or your parents' credit score, and your chances of being approved for a private loan are better if your credit score is above 650. Interest rates and fees are based on your credit score, so it is often better to apply with a cosigner to achieve a lower rate.

Other Massage & Beauty Loan Resources

Here are some other organizations that offer financial aid. Learn more by clicking on each type of loan opportunity listed below.

StudentLoan.com
A service of Citibank, this site provides extensive information about the various types of student loans you may be qualified to receive.

FinAid.org
FinAid is a comprehensive public service website dedicated to helping students find financial aid and scholarships.

SallieMae.com
Sallie Mae is the nation's largest source of funding and servicing for higher education loans.

StudentCredit.com
Student Credit helps students learn how to use credit wisely.

Teri.org
TERI (The Education Resource Institute) provides education financing and information services to students and their families.

Ed.gov
The Department of Education provides detailed information about federal student aid.

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Looking for Beauty Schools?

Try our Spa, Massage & Beauty Schools page. There you will find a comprehensive list of schools and program descriptions. You can also request information from the schools that interest you most.