Best institutions to study Apparel and Textiles
Compare 105 U.S. colleges offering Apparel and Textiles by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 39 states.
Apparel and Textiles programs report a median of $35,768 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 19.09 and the Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Apparel and Textiles programs
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 various aspects of textile science and apparel marketing management. Students will engage with both the creative and technical sides of the field.
Students in the Apparel and Textiles program will develop core skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and design. Coursework typically covers pattern creation, textile production processes, and marketing strategies, equipping students with the knowledge necessary to succeed in various specializations within the industry.
Top 44 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,494 | 8 | 54% | — | $19,444 |
| 2 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,264 | 93 | 80% | — | $20,500 |
| 3 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,760 | 73 | 81% | — | $23,250 |
| 4 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,647 | 3 | 68% | — | $21,250 |
| 5 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,827 | 49 | 88% | — | $22,313 |
| 6 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,130 | 63 | 86% | — | $20,100 |
| 7 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,948 | 87 | 71% | — | $25,225 |
| 8 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,849 | 82 | 75% | — | $23,204 |
| 9 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,558 | 12 | 64% | — | $23,250 |
| 10 | Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,463 | 109 | 81% | — | $21,165 |
| 11 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,081 | 34 | 60% | — | $19,500 |
| 12 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,059 | 54 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 13 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,969 | 21 | 65% | — | $24,750 |
| 14 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,262 | 82 | 68% | — | $11,764 |
| 15 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,529 | 26 | 71% | — | $22,773 |
| 16 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,329 | 86 | 82% | — | $23,976 |
| 17 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,245 | 51 | 89% | — | $24,812 |
| 18 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,111 | 59 | 73% | — | $25,000 |
| 19 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,111 | 12 | 65% | — | $22,500 |
| 20 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,945 | 31 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 21 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,635 | 55 | 56% | — | $27,000 |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,768 | 2 | 55% | — | $26,248 |
| 23 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,703 | 19 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 24 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,852 | 70 | 67% | — | $21,250 |
| 25 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,315 | 58 | 71% | — | $23,000 |
| 26 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,244 | 20 | 67% | — | $27,000 |
| 27 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,502 | 20 | 85% | — | — |
| 28 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,161 | 56 | 73% | — | $24,125 |
| 29 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,016 | 33 | 90% | — | $26,000 |
| 30 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,418 | 41 | 63% | — | $26,000 |
| 31 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,796 | 38 | 65% | $28,911 | $22,500 |
| 32 | Framingham State University Framingham, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,574 | 7 | 48% | — | $26,000 |
| 33 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,352 | 35 | 67% | — | $24,625 |
| 34 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,371 | 19 | 54% | — | $25,000 |
| 35 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,082 | 63 | 50% | — | $20,000 |
| 36 | Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,578 | 3 | 43% | — | $26,000 |
| 37 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,911 | 51 | 55% | — | $29,250 |
| 38 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,630 | 51 | 34% | $40,294 | $31,000 |
| 39 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,968 | 28 | 56% | — | — |
| 40 | Wayne State University Detroit, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,490 | 80 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 41 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LA Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,004 | 46 | 69% | — | $23,307 |
| 42 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,247 | 5 | 62% | — | $31,000 |
| 43 | Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $14,537 | 11 | 89% | $41,764 | $27,000 |
| 44 | Institucion Chaviano de Mayaguez Mayaguez, PR Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $14,355 | 1 | 54% | $4,482 | — |
Offered across 39 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-6092, Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers, and its national outlook.
The career outlook for graduates in Apparel and Textiles shows a decline, with an expected growth rate of -10.2%. However, approximately 300 annual openings are projected, with a median wage of $67,670. Most positions in this field require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Apparel and Textiles
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 19.09.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 19.09 (Apparel and Textiles) maps to 9 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-2021 | Marketing Managers |
| 13-1022 | Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products |
| 13-1161 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists |
| 19-2032 | Materials Scientists |
| 25-1192 | Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-9021 | Farm and Home Management Educators |
| 27-1022 | Fashion Designers |
| 27-1025 | Interior Designers |
| 51-6092 | Fabric and Apparel Patternmakersprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Apparel and Textiles programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices.
- Input specifications into computers to assist with pattern design and pattern cutting.
- Draw details on outlined parts to indicate where parts are to be joined, as well as the positions of pleats, pockets, buttonholes, and other features, using computers or drafting instruments.
- Make adjustments to patterns after fittings.
- Compute dimensions of patterns according to sizes, considering stretching of material.
- Mark samples and finished patterns with information, such as garment size, section, style, identification, and sewing instructions.
Concentrations within Apparel and Textiles
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Apparel and Textiles, GeneralCIP 19.0901
A general program that focuses on the development of textile products and their distribution and use in terms of the psychological, social, economic, and physical needs of consumers
- Apparel and Textile ManufactureCIP 19.0902
A program that focuses on the design, development, and production of textile products and related processes and systems
- Textile ScienceCIP 19.0904
A program that focuses on the properties and processing of fibers, yarns, whole fabrics, dyes, and finishes, both natural and synthetic
- Apparel and Textile Marketing ManagementCIP 19.0905
A program that focuses on marketing research and management as applied to the products and services of the apparel and textile industries
- Fashion and Fabric ConsultantCIP 19.0906
A program that prepares individuals to assist in apparel and fashion selection, style coordination, customer sales and consulting, fabric selection, clothing specifications, and contract buying activi
- Apparel and Textiles, OtherCIP 19.0999
Any instructional program in apparel and textiles not listed above.
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Apparel and Textile Manufacture, Textile Science, and Fashion and Fabric Consultant.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, design, and active learning.
What tasks might I perform in this field?+
Tasks include creating master patterns, adjusting designs, and inputting specifications for pattern cutting.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline with a growth rate of -10.2%, but there are around 300 annual openings.
How much do Apparel and Textiles graduates earn?+
Apparel and Textiles graduates report median earnings of $35,768 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers occupation pays about $71,420 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Apparel and Textiles?+
Apparel and Textiles maps to CIP 19.09 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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