For some college is a rite of passage or a way to start a career and learn a lot of interesting skills and facts. However, a four-year university may not be the right path for every career.

“I believe that beauty school is a better option because hairdressing will always be something I can fall back on if anything happens with other careers that I might have,” Jazmyn Sparks, senior, said.

Sparks is also planning on attending Southeast Missouri State for broadcast journalism.

“I think this will provide a source of income for me while I’m in a traditional college so then I will have a steady income,” Sparks said.

Stephanie Dunn, senior, plans on attending Truman State University and majoring in visual communications; however, she does think that beauty or trade school is a good option.

“It all depends on what goals and ambitions for after school that particular person has, not what the majority does,” Dunn said.

Beauty schools can offer students opportunities that universities can’t, such as a fast track to a career and hands-on learning.

“I think beauty school is an excellent option because it’s a career that you can always improve on and that’s constantly changing,” Morgan Erhard, admissions advisor at Xenon School of Beauty, said.

Xenon offers a degree in cosmetology and offers many different kinds of classes. The most popular, according to Erhard, are color, texture, salon success and hair design.

“After students graduate our school, they would typically find an apprenticeship job at a salon for anywhere between six months to a year, then work on their own at a salon,” Erhard said.

Xenon isn’t the only beauty school in the area. Grabber School of Hair Design is located on Manchester Road and offers similar classes.