If you are interested in pursuing a career as an esthetician but are not sure if you can afford it, familiarizing yourself with the financial aid options that may be available to you is an important step in reaching your goals. Here at Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes, many of our students receive the financial aid they need to make it possible to pursue the career they have always wanted. Here is an overview of the types of financial aid you may be eligible for to help fund your esthetician training.

School and Student Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid

To qualify for federal financial aid, you will need to be accepted to or currently enrolled in a fully-accredited program, which generally means attending a Title IV school. To be considered a Title IV beauty school, the institution you choose must offer at least one program that leads to a degree and/or employment, follow all state licensing requirements, be accredited or pre-accredited by the Department of Education, and be certified as a Title IV school by the Department of Education. Each of our four Aveda Institutes locations meets these requirements. You will also need to hold a high school diploma or GED prior to applying for federal financial aid, as well as be a US citizen or legal resident. 

Types of Financial Aid Available

Depending on your level of need, you may have several federal options for paying for esthetician training. Many of our students receive a combination of scholarships, grants, and student loans, which help make pursuing an esthetician career possible for those who might otherwise not be able to afford to attend a program.

Scholarships

Esthetician students can apply for a wide variety of merit-based or need-based scholarships to help them cover the cost of training. Although you can still consider applying for general scholarships that any college student can apply for, there are also many that are more specialized and only available to students in the beauty industry or those who are specifically seeking esthetician training. Scholarship applications commonly require a certain degree of background information to determine your eligibility, including:

  • High school GPA;
  • Relevant work or volunteer experience in the beauty industry;
  • And a personal statement on why you wish to pursue esthetician training. as well as a personal statement on why you are interested in pursuing esthetician training and why you feel the profession is a good fit for you.

Loans 

Loans can be a helpful option for filling the gaps between any grants and scholarships you get and the total cost of your esthetician training program. Many students are not able to fully fund their education through financial aid that does not need to be repaid, but this should not mean pursuing your goals is not an option. Loans may be obtained through federal financial aid or privately through your bank or other sources. Before considering private loans, it may be a good idea to receive as much funding through federal student loans as you are eligible for, as these feature lower interest rates. However, if federal loans fail to cover your esthetician training, private loans can make all the difference.

Grants

Grants are perhaps the most versatile option for financing your beauty education. While not awarded based on merit, students must demonstrate genuine financial need in order to be considered. These federal grants are also most often larger than scholarships, and do not require the student to pay them back. 

Enroll at Aveda Institutes Today

At Aveda Institutes, we want every potential student interested in a career as an esthetician to have the opportunity to pursue their dream, regardless of their financial situation. Get in touch with us today to learn more about starting the financial aid application process if you have already been accepted or to apply to Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes.