Cécred and the BeyGOOD Foundation are doubling down on their commitment to the next generation of hair professionals – and this year, they’re going bigger.
Founded by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Cécred and the BeyGOOD Foundation share a common thread: the belief that talent shouldn’t be stopped by a tuition bill. Tina Knowles, Cécred’s Vice Chairwoman and Chair of the Board of Directors at BeyGOOD, knows this firsthand. “As a licensed cosmetologist and former salon owner, I’ll never forget my own beginnings at Franklin School and the pure passion it takes to succeed in this craft,” she shares. And with tuition costs climbing, that passion alone isn’t always enough.
“Today, the cost of tuition, tools, and equipment is hitting record high, making it harder for aspiring cosmetologists to afford their education. By expanding our grants from five to ten schools this year, we are providing vital financial support so these talented students can focus on their training and pursue their passions. We are committed to uplifting the next generation of hair professionals and giving them the tuition support they need,” Knowles further explains.
Now in its third year, the Cécred and BeyGOOD Fund is awarding $250,000 in grants across 10 partner institutions in both the U.S. and the U.K., with each school receiving $25,000 to support students on their path to licensure. Since launching in 2024, the Fund has distributed $1,000,000 in scholarships and salon business grants to 133 students and salon owners – a milestone that speaks to how seriously both organizations are taking this work.
The 2026 Cécred x BeyGOOD Fund Recipients
This year’s grants reach schools across nine U.S. cities and the U.K., spanning communities from Detroit to Waipahu, Hawaii. The 2026 recipients include:
- Athena Aesthetics & Beauty Academy — Birmingham, United Kingdom
- The Beauty Academy — Byron, Georgia Beauty
- Theory School of Cosmetology — Waipahu, Hawaii
- Bennett Career Institute — Washington, D.C.
- Detroit Extravagant Academy — Detroit, Michigan
- Dudley Beauty College — Chicago, Illinois
- New Beginnings Beauty College — New Orleans, Louisiana
- Penrose Academy — Phoenix, Arizona
- The Strand Institute — Corpus Christi, Texas
- Universal College of Beauty — Los Angeles, California
Beyond the Scholarship
What sets the 2026 Fund apart is its expanded approach to student support. For the first time, BeyGOOD is implementing a tracking system to follow recipients through graduation, licensure results, and job placement – measuring the fund’s real-world impact well beyond the classroom. Plans for mentorship programming and virtual professional development gatherings create a system that’s less about a one-time boost and more about building lasting community within the industry. “Expanding the fund to 10 partner schools across the US and UK allows us to focus on making an impact here in a more sustained way,” Grace Ray, CEO of Cécred, shares.
Recipients are selected based on enrollment at a partner school, their track to graduate, demonstrated financial need, and passion for their craft.
To stay up to date with new program launches, make sure to visit www.beygood.org.
