When choosing a place to receive a cosmetology education, students have to decide between attending a beauty school or choosing it as a major at a regular college. Now you might be thinking, “Does it matter where I get my cosmetology education?” “What is the difference between cosmetology school and college?” “Should I go to cosmetology school?”
Both avenues will provide different experiences and present different opportunities to students. Choosing which school experience you want for yourself will highly depend on your specific needs. This can include your schedule, your budget, your learning styles, and the timeline you wish to complete your education.
Simply put, if you want the “college experience” and everything that comes with it, a traditional college might be the best fit, but if you want to focus on your cosmetology education and begin your career as quickly as possible, cosmetology school might be perfect for you. At a quality cosmetology school, students can obtain licenses at a faster rate for less money than they would at a traditional college, offering a direct path to turn yourself from a prospective student into a beauty professional.
What is the difference between cosmetology school and college?
Let’s dissect the differences between a school for cosmetology and a traditional college.
1. Focus
At their core, the main difference between cosmetology schools and regular colleges is their focus.
What is beauty school? Beauty school is more than just a school for hair; it is an institution that specializes in preparing students for a professional job in the beauty industry. A beauty school with a cosmetology program or barbering program like Houston Training Schools dedicates all of its resources to helping students learn how to become cosmetologists.
A typical college, on the other hand, will have many different focuses and subjects that you will also have to take on top of your cosmetology course, meaning it is not the center focus of your education.
Another factor to consider is the quality of your instructors. At a cosmetology school, your instructors will likely be licensed cosmetologists, whereas a career or technical teacher may teach your cosmetology class at a regular college.
In short, a cosmetology school specializes in cosmetology education. A regular college does not. If you want to master cosmetology skills, attending a designated beauty school will allow you to focus solely on developing those skills and passing your licensing exam.
2. Opportunities
Because a typical college class can range from 20 people to a few hundred, odds are your classes will be much larger. Cosmetology schools often offer smaller classes for a more intimate and individualized learning environment.
A smaller class size run by licensed instructors allows cosmetology students to experience more hands-on learning opportunities, like practicing on real clients. Houston Training Schools allows every student in every discipline to provide beauty services to teach them how to build clientele in their future careers. College classes will typically not give students the opportunity to practice their skills outside of a mannequin or fellow students.
The hands-on learning experience is very important for aspiring beauty professionals and is exactly why we don’t recommend taking cosmetology classes online. You’ll learn a lot more working with real people than you will only working on mannequins or writing essays.
3. Course length
If graduating or obtaining your license at a certain time is important to you, you need to consider how long a cosmetology course would take at a beauty school vs. a college.
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree at a traditional college will usually take around four years to complete depending on which school you attend. You will likely have to wait until you graduate before you can take your licensing exam.
How long is cosmetology school? Cosmetology school in Texas usually takes around 40 weeks to complete the required 1,000-hour curriculum. If you take the typical daytime class schedule, you could graduate in less than a year! However, we understand that every student has different scheduling needs, so we offer flexible class options such as night classes. This is a great option for those who work full-time jobs or are parents.
4. Cost
Tuition to any school will depend on the location and the institution itself. However, there is a big difference between a cosmetology education vs college cost. Beauty schools in general will cost less than a regular college tuition mostly due to the fact that the programs are shorter, and you won’t be paying for all those classes unrelated to cosmetology. With the specialized training and smaller course load, many students find cosmetology school tuition to be more cost-effective than a traditional college — especially if they intend to become a licensed cosmetologist.
How much is cosmetology school in Texas? Like we said earlier, tuition will depend on what beauty school you choose but the average cost in Texas can vary from $11,000 to $15,000.
Our cosmetology training program at Houston Training Schools comes complete with a well-rounded curriculum for $11,350. This includes your books and your student kit. It’s almost important to mention that Houston Training Schools is one of the few cosmetology schools in Houston that provides multiple financial aid options for cosmetology students. On top of that, we are also committed to helping our students graduate without debt to make their transition into the professional world smoother.
If you want to ensure that your hard-earned money is going toward building a better future for yourself, choosing an accredited cosmetology school will give you more experience for less money than college.
What is the best cosmetology school to attend?
It’s hard to answer this question without being a little biased, however, we do encourage you to do your own research and tour multiple campuses so that you can choose the best cosmetology school for you.
Here are some factors to consider when selecting a school:
- Look for a well-rounded curriculum that teaches you more than just the basics. This can include professional skills as well as the science behind your craft.
- Diversity in any type of education is important. Choose a school that will teach you how to work with all different types of clients to set you up for success.
- See how students speak about their instructors. Reading reviews or speaking to current students can help you get a better idea of what the classroom environments will be like and how helpful the instructors are.
- Look for schools that offer flexible scheduling options. Most programs will offer classes during the day, but that is not accessible for every student. A school that offers flexible scheduling options will allow you to get your degree on your own time.
Experience a well-rounded cosmetology education at Houston Training Schools
Where you choose to receive your cosmetology education is important and can impact your future. While a four-year, traditional college might be good for students looking for opportunities outside of the beauty industry, devoted students should spend their time and money where their education will be nurtured.
Houston Training Schools offers a challenging cosmetology curriculum, hands-on experience, and a friendly environment where beauty enthusiasts can thrive. You will learn so much more than cutting hair — you will learn the ins and outs of the industry to become the best professional you possibly can. Our school has a high graduation and licensing rate, meaning those who complete our cosmetology program achieve their dreams.
Apply online or schedule a tour at any of our Houston campuses today.
More Helpful Articles by Houston Training Schools:
- Cosmetology Schools in Houston that Accept Financial Aid
- What Do You Learn in Cosmetology School?
- What Can You Do with a Cosmetology License?
- Signs That a Cosmetologist Career is for You
- What Do You Learn in a Barber Program?
