Best institutions to study Fashion/Apparel Design
A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic principles and techniques to the professional design of commercial fashions, apparel, and accessories, and the management of fashion development projects.
119 U.S. institutions graduated 3,243 Fashion/Apparel Design students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0407, a specialization of Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04), and leads most directly to the Fashion Designers occupation (BLS SOC 27-1022).
About Fashion/Apparel Design programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic principles and techniques to the professional design of commercial fashions, apparel, and accessories, and the management of fashion development projects. Includes instruction in apparel design; accessory design; the design of men's', women's', and children's' wear; flat pattern design; computer-assisted design and manufacturing; concept planning; designing in specific materials; labor and cost analysis; history of fashion; fabric art and printing; and the principles of management and operations in the fashion industry.
See also: 19.0902 - Apparel and Textile Manufacture.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Fashion/Apparel Design program, part of the Design and Applied Arts field, prepares individuals to apply artistic principles to the professional design of commercial fashions, apparel, and accessories. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a creative career in the fashion industry, focusing on both design and project management aspects of fashion development.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in apparel design, accessory design, and flat pattern design, along with skills in computer-assisted design and manufacturing. Coursework also covers concept planning, labor and cost analysis, and the history of fashion, equipping students with a well-rounded foundation for their careers.
Credentials awarded
What Fashion/Apparel Design graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree2,026 graduates / yr · 69 institutions63%
- Associate's degree794 graduates / yr · 46 institutions25%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years170 graduates / yr · 20 institutions5.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year152 graduates / yr · 24 institutions4.7%
- Master's degree97 graduates / yr · 10 institutions3.0%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Fashion/Apparel Design completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4,591 |
| 2013 | 4,672 |
| 2014 | 4,379 |
| 2015 | 4,356 |
| 2016 | 4,110 |
| 2017 | 4,086 |
| 2018 | 3,706 |
| 2019 | 3,322 |
| 2020 | 3,414 |
| 2021 | 3,031 |
| 2022 | 2,992 |
| 2023 | 3,018 |
| 2024 | 3,172 |
| 2025 | 3,243 |
Top 50 institutions for Fashion/Apparel Design, 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 | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NYPublicAssociate'sBachelor'sMaster's | 675 | 81% | — | $14,361 |
| 2 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate'sMaster's | 325 | 69% | $54,185 | $24,804 |
| 3 | Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 190 | 69% | $44,902 | $23,400 |
| 4 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 127 | 64% | — | $36,351 |
| 5 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 104 | 52% | $28,087 | $29,630 |
| 6 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor's | 82 | 63% | — | $25,872 |
| 7 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor's | 78 | 68% | — | $35,960 |
| 8 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 60 | 46% | — | $30,466 |
| 9 | Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 55 | 74% | $49,088 | $36,040 |
| 10 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJPublicBachelor's | 53 | 65% | — | $26,027 |
| 11 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 45 | 78% | $36,004 | $38,154 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 44 | 35% | — | — |
| 13 | Clark Atlanta University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 43 | 49% | $36,717 | $20,974 |
| 14 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 38 | 20% | — | $40,230 |
| 15 | SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, NYPublicBachelor's | 37 | 69% | — | — |
| 16 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor's | 37 | 61% | — | $33,867 |
| 17 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicBachelor's | 36 | 75% | — | $52,526 |
| 18 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston, MAPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 35 | 69% | — | $24,706 |
| 19 | Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 32 | 66% | $44,867 | $31,172 |
| 20 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CAPrivate for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 31 | 34% | $40,294 | $20,829 |
| 21 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor's | 30 | 81% | — | $36,784 |
| 22 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 29 | 36% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 28 | 81% | — | $42,585 |
| 24 | EDP University of Puerto Rico Inc - San Juan San Juan, PRPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 28 | 24% | $5,708 | $12,994 |
| 25 | CUNY Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NYPublicAssociate's | 27 | 28% | — | $19,146 |
| 26 | Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Lakewood, COPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 26 | 32% | $28,500 | $29,829 |
| 27 | Palomar College San Marcos, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 25 | 38% | — | — |
| 28 | Marist University Poughkeepsie, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 25 | 80% | $33,867 | $28,336 |
| 29 | Houston City College Houston, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 25 | 17% | — | — |
| 30 | Wade College Dallas, TXPrivate for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 25 | 54% | $25,989 | — |
| 31 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor's | 24 | 80% | — | $26,421 |
| 32 | College of Alameda Alameda, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 23 | 33% | — | — |
| 33 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 23 | 69% | $26,034 | $36,433 |
| 34 | Dallas College Dallas, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 22 | 32% | — | $31,478 |
| 35 | Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 48% | — | — |
| 36 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OHPublicBachelor's | 21 | 64% | — | $35,645 |
| 37 | Austin Community College District Austin, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 20% | — | $40,289 |
| 38 | El Paso Community College El Paso, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 21 | 24% | — | — |
| 39 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez - Gurabo Campus Gurabo, PRPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 21 | 31% | $9,370 | $7,580 |
| 40 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 20 | 45% | — | — |
| 41 | West Valley College Saratoga, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 20 | 51% | — | — |
| 42 | Albright College Reading, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 51% | $21,906 | $29,793 |
| 43 | University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 51% | $21,745 | $27,986 |
| 44 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 45 | Lasell University Newton, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 59% | $23,724 | $29,661 |
| 46 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor's | 17 | 70% | — | $35,614 |
| 47 | Belmont University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 71% | $29,246 | $28,702 |
| 48 | Seattle Central College Seattle, WAPublicAssociate's | 15 | 32% | — | $29,775 |
| 49 | American InterContinental University - Atlanta Atlanta, GAPrivate for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 21% | $17,531 | — |
| 50 | Nassau Community College Garden City, NYPublicAssociate's | 14 | 23% | — | $18,107 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Design and Applied Arts field (CIP 50.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 32 states & territories
Where Fashion/Apparel Design graduates come from. Each state links to all Design and Applied Arts programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1022, Fashion Designers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Fashion/Apparel Design program often pursue careers as Fashion Designers, with an average annual wage of $80,690. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2% and approximately 2,300 annual openings requiring typically a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0407
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fashion Designersprimary SOC 27-1022 | $80,960 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~2,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1121 | $78,620 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~9,000 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Fashion/Apparel Design 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
- Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
- Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
- Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
- Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
- Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
- Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
Tools and technology used
Other Design and Applied Arts specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04).
- Graphic DesignCIP 50.040910,754 graduates / yr580 institutions
- Design and Visual CommunicationsCIP 50.04016,709 graduates / yr249 institutions
- Interior DesignCIP 50.04085,774 graduates / yr231 institutions
- IllustrationCIP 50.04103,166 graduates / yr68 institutions
- Commercial and Advertising ArtCIP 50.04023,097 graduates / yr161 institutions
- Game and Interactive Media DesignCIP 50.04112,954 graduates / yr152 institutions
- Design and Applied ArtsCIP 50.04991,720 graduates / yr77 institutions
- Industrial and Product DesignCIP 50.04041,432 graduates / yr64 institutions
- Commercial PhotographyCIP 50.0406766 graduates / yr60 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or shorter awards in Fashion/Apparel Design.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, and design skills, among others.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Fashion Designer or in related roles such as teaching art, drama, and music.
What is the job outlook for fashion designers?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2% and 2,300 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Fashion/Apparel Design?+
Fashion/Apparel Design is CIP 50.0407 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic principles and techniques to the professional design of commercial fashions, apparel, and accessories, and the management of fashion development projects. Includes instruction in apparel design; accessory design; the design of men's', women's', and children's' wear; flat pattern design; computer-assisted design and manufacturing; concept planning; designing in specific materials; labor and cost analysis; history of fashion; fabric art and printing; and the principles of management and operations in the fashion industry.
How many institutions offer Fashion/Apparel Design programs?+
119 U.S. institutions reported Fashion/Apparel Design graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 32 states & territories, awarding 3,243 credentials in the year. That is 8.2% of all Design and Applied Arts graduates.
How much do Fashion/Apparel Design graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Fashion Designers occupation, which Fashion/Apparel Design most directly leads to, pays a median of $80,960 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Design and Applied Arts field report median earnings of $30,053 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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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