AACS - Golden School Awards
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The American Association of Career Schools (AACS) Golden School Awards recognize the best beauty, barber, and wellness schools that our sector has to offer. You can enter your school in one or all of the categories. The school that receives the highest score in each category will be named “Winner” in that category.

Judging will be based on the materials you submit. Responses should be thorough and descriptive. Refer to the GSA webpage to find the Judging Criteria and Planning Document. When applicable, submit any supporting documentation including quantitative numbers/statistics, pictures, videos, screenshots, social media posts, and any other materials that support your submission. 

Winners will be announced at the AACS Annual Conference, October 23-26 in Miami Beach!

SCROLL DOWN IN THIS SECTION TO REVIEW HOW TO ENTER!

Submission deadline: September 19, 2025

Submission fee: $149 per campus – one flat fee per campus grants unlimited submissions to enter as many categories as you like.

The AACS Golden School Awards are open only to AACS member schools. Before submitting an entry, purchase your entry fee here and note your Reference Number (from the confirmation email you receive after purchase). You must be logged in to your AACS member profile to purchase the GSA entry.

Submission Planning:

Before formally submitting your entry, carefully review the award category descriptions, criteria, details, and examples. We have provided the Planning Document and Judging Criteria below and on the AACS website.
Gather supporting documentation to accompany your submission. This can include pictures, videos, data, testimonials, screenshots, etc.  Purchase your entry and visit the submission portal by September 19, to upload your submission.

Our questions are open-ended because we want to hear directly from you why you believe your campus is the best in the category in which you are applying. There is no one who knows your campus better than you. Do your best to describe what makes your campus better than the rest and be sure to address each of the category criteria. Your answers can be as long or as short as you need to fully paint the picture of why your campus deserves to win. While submitting pictures and videos with your entry is not required, it is encouraged. 

How to Enter:

Step 1: Purchase your entry fee, per campus, at myaacs.org. The flat fee of $149 per campus allows you to enter in as many categories as you'd like, per campus.
Step 2: Prepare your entry materials. Refer to the Planning Document (your written submission should answer the questions provided in this document) and view the Judging Criteria provided below and on myaacs.org/golden-school-award
Step 3: Create a login on this site and sign in to begin submitting your materials by the deadline of September 19.

  • All submissions are per category. If you are entering multiple categories, do so one at a time. Once you submit, click the button on the upper right hand corner to "Add a New Submission".
  • Enter separate submissions for as many categories as you like. Be sure your written submission answers the questions posed in the Planning Document linked below.
  • If you are in charge up multiple campus locations, there is no need to login separately. Simply continue by pressing the "Add a New Submission" button and then enter in the information for your other campus location before proceeding.

Questions? Please contact awards@myaacs.org.