Best institutions to study Costume Design
A program that prepares individuals to design and select costumes for characters in theatre and the performing arts and to serve as part of a production team.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 32 Costume Design students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0510, a specialization of Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (CIP 50.05), and leads most directly to the Fashion Designers occupation (BLS SOC 27-1022).
About Costume Design programs
A program that prepares individuals to design and select costumes for characters in theatre and the performing arts and to serve as part of a production team. Includes instruction in costume design, script analysis, theory and criticism, period styles, history of costume, stage makeup, rendering, and costume construction.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Costume Design program prepares individuals to create and select costumes for characters in theatre and the performing arts. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about visual storytelling and wish to be integral members of a production team. Students will engage in a variety of design and construction techniques to bring characters to life through clothing and accessories.
Students in this program will gain core skills in costume design, script analysis, and stage makeup, while also learning about period styles and the history of costume. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, equipping graduates with the tools needed for success in the field.
Credentials awarded
What Costume Design graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree10 graduates / yr · 4 institutions31%
- Award of less than 12 weeks9 graduates / yr · 2 institutions28%
- Master's degree6 graduates / yr · 2 institutions19%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year6 graduates / yr · 4 institutions19%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.1%
Graduates over time
Costume Design completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 29 |
| 2014 | 53 |
| 2015 | 54 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 47 |
| 2018 | 43 |
| 2019 | 63 |
| 2020 | 80 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2022 | 47 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 64 |
| 2025 | 32 |
Top 11 institutions for Costume 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 | Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 32% | — | — |
| 2 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 16% | — | — |
| 3 | Webster University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 64% | $25,090 | $13,182 |
| 4 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CAPrivate for-profitMaster's | 4 | 34% | $40,294 | $20,798 |
| 5 | Bossier Parish Community College Bossier City, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 15% | — | — |
| 6 | Stephens College Columbia, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 43% | $23,198 | $16,476 |
| 7 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 94% | $23,803 | $32,967 |
| 8 | Bennington College Bennington, VTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 71% | $27,554 | $16,579 |
| 9 | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 14% | — | — |
| 10 | Utah Tech University Saint George, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 38% | — | — |
| 11 | Carthage College Kenosha, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 64% | $22,844 | $28,727 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft field (CIP 50.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 9 states
Where Costume Design graduates come from. Each state links to all Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 2 | 7 | Webster University5 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 7 | Red Rocks Community College7 / yr |
| Arizona | 2 | 6 | Mesa Community College5 / yr |
| California | 1 | 4 | Academy of Art University4 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 2 | Bossier Parish Community College2 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Carnegie Mellon University2 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 2 | Bennington College2 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Utah Tech University1 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | Carthage College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1022, Fashion Designers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Costume Design program can pursue careers as fashion designers or postsecondary art, drama, and music teachers. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an estimated 2,300 annual openings and a median wage of $80,690, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0510
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 Costume 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 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (CIP 50.05).
- Drama and Dramatics/CIP 50.0501
Theatre Arts 9,838 graduates / yr813 institutions - ActingCIP 50.05061,706 graduates / yr111 institutions
- Technical Theatre/CIP 50.0502
Theatre Design and Technology 1,232 graduates / yr158 institutions - Musical TheatreCIP 50.05091,212 graduates / yr123 institutions
- Playwriting and ScreenwritingCIP 50.0504889 graduates / yr52 institutions
- Dramatic/CIP 50.0599
Theatre Arts and Stagecraft 404 graduates / yr45 institutions - Directing and Theatrical ProductionCIP 50.0507197 graduates / yr35 institutions
- Theatre and DanceCIP 50.051297 graduates / yr11 institutions
- Theatre LiteratureCIP 50.0505partial data36 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Comedy Writing and PerformanceCIP 50.0511limited data35 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What is the duration of the Costume Design program?+
The program can vary in length, with options for Bachelor's degrees and shorter awards.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, design, and effective communication.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as fashion designers or educators in the arts.
What is the job outlook for costume designers?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with around 2,300 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Costume Design?+
Costume Design is CIP 50.0510 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (CIP 50.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to design and select costumes for characters in theatre and the performing arts and to serve as part of a production team. Includes instruction in costume design, script analysis, theory and criticism, period styles, history of costume, stage makeup, rendering, and costume construction.
How many institutions offer Costume Design programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Costume Design graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 32 credentials in the year. That is 0.2% of all Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates.
How much do Costume Design graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Fashion Designers occupation, which Costume Design most directly leads to, pays a median of $80,960 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft field report median earnings of $20,798 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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