classical guitar scale length is also approx 25.5", so no it does not have a shorter neck.
less frets maybe, but some acoustics also have 19-20 frets only.

and i started out by learning classical

btw, classical you do not start by learning chords.
you start by working on right hand finger independence on open strings.

for acoustics, depends on the teacher.
or even yourself.
i know quite a few ppl who just wanna learn some stupid song so they can impress some girl.