Best institutions to study Textile Science
A program that focuses on the properties and processing of fibers, yarns, whole fabrics, dyes, and finishes, both natural and synthetic.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 4 Textile Science students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 19.0904, a specialization of Apparel and Textiles (CIP 19.09), and leads most directly to the Materials Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2032).
About Textile Science programs
A program that focuses on the properties and processing of fibers, yarns, whole fabrics, dyes, and finishes, both natural and synthetic. Includes instruction in the chemical and physical properties of textile materials; end-use analysis; interior furnishing applications; and industrial applications.
See also: 14.2801 - Textile Sciences and Engineering.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Textile Science program, part of the Apparel and Textiles field, focuses on the properties and processing of fibers, yarns, fabrics, dyes, and finishes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding both natural and synthetic materials and their applications in various industries, including fashion and interior design.
Students in this program gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and science, while also acquiring knowledge in engineering, chemistry, and physics. Coursework emphasizes the chemical and physical properties of textile materials and their practical applications.
Credentials awarded
What Textile Science graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree4 graduates / yr · 1 institution100%
Graduates over time
Textile Science completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 |
Top 1 institutions for Textile Science, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 95% | $17,613 |
Offered in 1 states
Where Textile Science graduates come from. Each state links to all Apparel and Textiles programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 | 4 | Cornell University4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2032, Materials Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Textile Science program can pursue careers as Materials Scientists, with a median wage of $104,160. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.9% and approximately 600 annual openings, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 19.0904
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Materials Scientistsprimary SOC 19-2032 | $117,790 | +4.9% About as fast as average | ~600 | Bachelor's degree |
Interior Designers SOC 27-1025 | $67,190 | +3.2% About as fast as average | ~7,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Fashion Designers SOC 27-1022 | $80,960 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~2,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1192 | $75,870 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Textile Science programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
- Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
- Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
- Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications.
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
- Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
Tools and technology used
Other Apparel and Textiles specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Apparel and Textiles (CIP 19.09).
- Apparel and TextilesCIP 19.09011,825 graduates / yr67 institutions
- Apparel and Textile Marketing ManagementCIP 19.0905530 graduates / yr32 institutions
- Apparel and Textile ManufactureCIP 19.0902244 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Fashion and Fabric ConsultantCIP 19.0906partial data38 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Apparel and TextilesCIP 19.0999partial data34 graduates / yr3 institutions
Common questions
What degree do I earn from this program?+
You will earn a Bachelor's degree.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a Materials Scientist, Interior Designer, or Fashion Designer.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, and mathematics.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 600 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Textile Science?+
Textile Science is CIP 19.0904 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Apparel and Textiles (CIP 19.09). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the properties and processing of fibers, yarns, whole fabrics, dyes, and finishes, both natural and synthetic. Includes instruction in the chemical and physical properties of textile materials; end-use analysis; interior furnishing applications; and industrial applications.
How many institutions offer Textile Science programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Textile Science graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 4 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Apparel and Textiles graduates.
How much do Textile Science graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Materials Scientists occupation, which Textile Science most directly leads to, pays a median of $117,790 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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