Along with a fashion major, the school also offers minors in fashion management, fashion history, sustainable apparel, and wearable design. Degree-seekers BFA fashion program benefit from a robust education, completing coursework that familiarizes them with their field of interest. If this sounds appealing, undertaking a fashion design degree is often the first step of breaking into the industry. The majority of fashion schools tend to be in New York or California, but numerous options exist throughout the U.S. and further abroad. When it comes to the elements that make up a strong fashion program, FIT scores high marks across the board. With over 48 undergraduate degree programs, students are sure to partake in a track that sets them up for success—no matter which career path they are hoping to pursue.
Students interested in fashion design often don’t realize the myriad positions available to them within the fashion industry. While programs like “Project Runway” have popularized clothing design, there are many additional exciting careers awaiting fashion design graduates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2012 there were over 22,000 professionals working as fashion designers receiving a median salary of nearly $63,000 annually. For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 59 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fashion design students pursuing a degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 3,040 degrees in fashion design annually.
Nipissing University
The course discusses the creation of a Personal Portfolio based on the student’s visual identity. According to their career objectives, projects are selected, and presentation methodologies are defined. They study their own personal brand identity as well as the design of appropriate packaging. Materials, formats and different methodologies of print are analyzed with the aim of presenting work to a professional level. This course will provide students with critical thinking skills while studying major theories of ethics.
Syracuse University is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in fashion design. Located in the midsize city of Syracuse, Syracuse is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #62 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Syracuse is a great university overall.
Fashion Design Graduate Program: Two-year Mfa Track
On this course students independently experiment with garment creation based on their own interpretation of a fashion theme. They start experimenting with shapes and materials, with the aim of designing innovative outfits with a particular focus on individual image and style. Throughout the creative process, they develop a fashion ‘taste’ and style, suitable for contemporary trends, and strengthen their own ‘creative personality’. Through the recognition and understanding of the principles and practices of the main marketing tools, students develop a professional approach to the various marketing communications strategies that are applied in the fashion industry. The course looks at creative marketing in the contemporary fashion industry, considering traditional methods to online digital techniques in advertising and promotion. This course aims to analyze all the phases involved in the construction and production of a fashion garment.
In consultation with an academic advisor, students can modify their coursework, choose electives, and pursue degree concentrations and minors to suit their career goals. The college also connects enrollees with career services, academic advising, and other supportive resources. Sans a design track, University of Missouri’s Textile and Apparel Management program prepares students for potential careers in merchandising, product development, sourcing, marketing, and more.
Our comprehensive curriculum prepares you with the professional skills to launch your fashion career. SCAD, which offers a BFA in fashion design (in addition to an MA and MFA), is a very well-reputed, high-ranked design school with many other strong design programs. The fashion design program is housed in Parson’s School of Fashion, which has some strong fashion Master’s programs. Students complete a senior thesis as a capstone to their studies, which is great for developing a portfolio. A great fashion program will provide hands-on experience in the classroom and the field, as well as plenty of opportunities for internships and jobs for both students and graduates.
For fashion merchandising and marketing students who are eager to put focus on interning in New York City, this is a great option. The program offers tracks in both design and merchandising and the chance to explore fashion through the lens of sports business and sustainability, too. You’ll delve into the fashion design process, master garment construction techniques, and learn to overcome creative challenges – all within our modern fashion studios. Fashion designers conceptualize and create clothing and accessory designs, ranging from haute couture to ready-to-wear collections. They collaborate with teams of patternmakers, garment technicians, and manufacturers to bring their designs to life, showcasing their creativity and vision on the runway and in retail stores.
You can take classes whether you are pursuing a career, continuing your education or just want to take one class. Many fashion design schools require applicants to submit a portfolio of work as part of the admissions process. Students have the opportunity to work in teams through junior and senior year to create unique designs, which is a great experience for when you transition to working in the actual industry. The school is also committed to sustainability in fashion—students can opt for a minor in sustainability if it’s something they’re particularly interested in. They provide hands-on training, and have connections to some of the biggest fashion companies in the world including Tommy Hilfiger, Urban Outfitters, and more.
They are able to combine those skills to discern what fashions should be obtained for sale in their organization or company. They should understand textiles and fabric and understand how these aspects of fashion appeal to customers, along with overall design. Applicants may be eligible for funding, such as scholarships, fellowships, and federal financial aid, to defray the costs of education.
Students benefit from a supportive learning environment and personalized interactions with faculty and staff. Fashion design students can customize their studies to suit their personal and professional goals. Learners also receive personalized guidance from fashion design faculty to access career services, academic advising, and other institutional resources. College-bound students with a flair for style and a desire to turn their passion into a career may consider enrolling in a fashion design program. A quality online fashion design school will teach students to create apparel that meets the expectations of constantly evolving trends. To help students find the right school, we analyzed each fashion design school and college in the country based on our methodology to compile this list of the best options.
Attending any fashion school in NY will come with some important advantages, including ease of access to the fashion industry. The types of employers graduates could find themselves working for are wide ranging. Some of the most popular include stylists, photographers, designers, casting agents, textile manufacturers, retailers, costumers or a variety of publication outlets. Students can meet with the financial aid office to determine their eligibility for scholarships and other educational funding. On the West Coast, Los Angeles has the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.