Best colleges for Apparel and Textiles in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, San Francisco State University and Academy of Art University are the top bachelor's Apparel and Textiles programs in California by graduate earnings. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,262, College Scorecard. California State University - Long Beach, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona and San Francisco State University award the most Apparel and Textiles degrees in California: 117, 82 and 63 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 California colleges offer Apparel and Textiles and award 655 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Apparel and Textiles program focuses on the design, production, and distribution of textiles, including yarn, cloth, and clothing. This program is ideal for individuals interested in the fashion industry and those who want to explore…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,262 | 82 | 68% | — | $11,764 |
| 2 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,082 | 63 | 50% | — | $20,000 |
| 3 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,630 | 51 | 34% | $40,294 | $31,000 |
| 4 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,968 | 28 | 56% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Apparel and Textiles degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 117 | Not reported |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 82 | $38,262 |
| 3 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public | 63 | $30,082 |
| 4 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit | 51 | $27,630 |
| 5 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa Public | 41 | Not reported |
| 6 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 35 | Not reported |
| 7 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 8 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public | 28 | $26,968 |
| 9 | El Camino Community College District Torrance Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 10 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 18 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 23 California colleges offering Apparel and Textiles
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | Public | 17 |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | Public | 16 |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | Public | 15 |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | Public | 15 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | Public | 12 |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Public | 11 |
| California State University - Fresno | Fresno | Public | 10 |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | Public | 9 |
| San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | Public | 9 |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | Public | 8 |
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | Public | 7 |
| Sierra College | Rocklin | Public | 7 |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | Public | 6 |
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento | Public | 5 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | Public | 5 |
| American River College | Sacramento | Public | 4 |
| Canada College | Redwood City | Public | 4 |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | Public | 4 |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | Public | 3 |
| West Valley College | Saratoga | Public | 3 |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | Public | 2 |
| Mendocino College | Ukiah | Public | 1 |
| Monterey Peninsula College | Monterey | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers (SOC 51-6092).
Top skills
What Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Apparel and Textiles programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Apparel and Textiles degrees?+
California State University - Long Beach (117 graduates a year), California State Polytechnic University - Pomona (82 graduates a year) and San Francisco State University (63 graduates a year) award the most Apparel and Textiles degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 California colleges offer Apparel and Textiles.
What is the best college for Apparel and Textiles in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads among bachelor's Apparel and Textiles programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,262, College Scorecard. San Francisco State University and Academy of Art University follow. By degrees awarded, California State University - Long Beach is the largest, with 117 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Apparel and Textiles program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona tops the list at $38,262. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers in California is $84,560 (median $89,010), across about 930 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Apparel and Textiles program?+
The Apparel and Textiles program focuses on the design, production, and distribution of textiles, including yarn, cloth, and clothing. This program is ideal for individuals interested in the fashion industry and those who want to explore…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, mathematics, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers?+
The national job outlook is about -10.2% growth with around 300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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