Going Back to School: Part-time or Full-time

For more information on Empire Beauty School’s part time programs, see our post on our part-time programs.

For adult learners, going back to school can be a tricky balance. Sometimes you have no choice but to go to school part time while keeping your full time job.

But if you have a choice, your decision can come down to a few things to think about:

How Big of a Commitment Can I Make?

Being a full–time student requires treating your studies like a full-time job. Be prepared to commit 30-35 hours a week to physically attend school. You will also need to build in time every night for studying outside of school; full-time will move at a much quicker pace than part-time. If you cannot realistically commit to being present for a full-time schedule, part-time courses offer a different level of commitment than  full-time programs.

If you need to keep working full-time, or have family or social commitments that require a significant amount of days, opt for part-time studies. Be honest with yourself and the time you have to commit. It will lead to a much better experience and outcome.

How Long do I Want to Be in School?

Take a look at your goals and future plans. Part-time schedules typically take twice as long to complete; however, you can maintain a stronger work-school balance if you need to work while you are in school. Full-time status will get you to graduation day sooner, but it requires a longer daily commitment short-term.

Many adult learners decide to ease into their new education with part-time schedules. This can help make the transition from full-time work to school a bit easier. Others find it beneficial to jump straight into full-time coursework, in hopes that they can finish in less time and begin their new career sooner.

How am I Paying for School?

Obviously if you attend class full-time, tuition payments will be higher and due more frequently. Because of this, full-time students often require more financial aid than their part-time counterparts. Additionally, since part-time students have time to work as they study, many choose to pay for school as they go, which can decrease financial burden and loan amounts.

It should be noted that financial aid is readily available for adult students. Studies have shown that as many as 30% of adult learners don’t realize that they’re eligible for financial aid and don’t even apply. Always explore your financial aid options, whether you’re a full-time or part-time student.

Financial aid status is directly affected by your part-time/full-time status. Part-time students are usually qualified for less financial aid for a variety of reasons. First, part-time students often have a higher income because they work while they are going to school and opt to pay as they go.

Additionally, federal and state grant programs have different maximums for full-time and part-time students. While full-time students can get up to $3,135 yearly from Pell grants, part-time students are only eligible for a portion of that, depending on how many credits they are taking. The same can be said for other grants and federal and school loans. Scholarships are also not as abundant for part-time students.

So, your individual situation will impact your financial aid status. To know all of your options, it is best to visit the cosmetology school you’d like to attend and discuss your financial options with a staff member.

While you are there, you can use the opportunity to discuss your part-time or full-time scheduling options.  The school staff will know what options are available to help you reach your career goals in the best time frame for you!

Considering coming back to school with us?

Empire Beauty School offers several Beauty Programs, including Cosmetology, Esthetics, Educator Training, and Nail Technology. Schedule a tour today and meet with a Career Planning Specialist to see if Empire is the perfect fit for you. Visit us at http://www.empire.edu or call 1-800-964-3635.