collageIt’s summertime, and chances are you’re heading to the beach or hanging out with friends. But soon enough it will be September, so you might as well start thinking about your future educational endeavors now. If you have an interest in fashion, whether to design it or take a more behind-the-scenes role, there are tons of amazing school options to consider.
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Fashion Design Schools
This list is meant to provide an overview of the schools’ strengths and to highlight some of their unique attributes. You’ll find fashion design programs here, but some of the schools listed don’t offer fashion design. Instead, they’ve gained a spot because they offer other amazing programs to prepare you for a career in fashion. We hope it’s helpful as a starting point.
1. Parsons, The New School For Design* (New York)
Programs: Fashion Design, Fashion Studies, Fashion Marketing
Number of students: Undergrads: 4,191; Graduate: 555; fashion design: 1,087; fashion marketing: 384
Tuition: $38,510
Famous Students/Grads: Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Narciso Rodriguez, Alexander Wang, Anna Sui, Jason Wu, Jenna Lyons (J.Crew), Chris Benz, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez (Proenza Schouler), Behnaz Sarafpour, Doo Ri Chung, Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock (Vena Cava), Flora Gill and Alexa Adams (Ohne Titel), Prabal Gurung, Steven Meisel, Thakoon Panichgul, Carmen Marc Valvo
The Bottom Line: Parsons is a fashion design powerhouse, and they have turned out tons of marquee name talent, particularly in the past 10 years. Many of their famous grads are now part of the faculty. Workshops and critiques by Donna Karan and the Proenza Schouler guys? Events like these are commonplace. Most of the faculty members work in the areas in which they teach. The students we spoke to raved about their instructors. What’s more, the school has partnered with many retailers and corporations (like LVMH) with the aim of getting student work seen and critiqued.
2. Fashion Institute Of Technology (FIT)* (New York)
Programs: Design, Business, Marketing, Illustration, Styling, etc.
Number of Students: 10,386
Tuition: $5,168 (NYC/NYC residents); $13,550 for out-of-state residents
Misc: Very comprehensive programs. Part of the SUNY network
Famous Grads: Reem Acra, Francisco Costa, Nina Garcia, Carolina Herrera, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, Ralph Rucci
The Bottom Line: In addition to fashion design, FIT offers fashion marketing, business, textiles, visual arts and countless other fashion-related degrees. The lecture series and FIT museum are exceptional. Valerie Steele, as Chief Curator of the Museum of FIT, gives this school a brainy credibility.
3. Pratt(Brooklyn, NY)
Programs: Fashion Design
Number of Students: Total undergrads in art & design program: 2,100; Fashion: 169
Tuition: $37,500
Misc: Part of a larger design school, so you can combine arts studies.
Famous Grads: Jeremy Scott, Betsey Johnson (didn’t graduate from Pratt), Andy and Debb
The Bottom Line: Pratt has shed its image as an up-and-coming fashion design program and become a force to be reckoned with, which is why it’s jumped up in our rating. Its student shows are getting more attention lately, and are attracting such luminaries as Vogue personalities and well-known designers. It’s also one of the few design programs that offers electives in fashion editorial/magazine publishing.
4. Kent State University* (Kent OH)
Programs: Fashion Design; Fashion Merchandising
Number of Students: Undergrads: 18,000; Fashion students: 200/year graduate from the school.
Tuition: Ohio resident: $9,030; Non-Ohio resident: $16,900
Misc: Has a garment center studio in NYC where 120 students/year go to study.
The Bottom Line: With study-abroad programs in Paris and Milan, a huge endowment for scholarships, and a high-profile program allowing you to complete a fashion-focused undergraduate and MBA in fashion-focused business in just five years, this school is one of the top American fashion schools and keeps getting better.
5. Academy Of Art University* (San Freancisco CA)
Programs: Fashion Design, Knitwear Design, Textile Design, Fashion Journalism and Fashion Merchandising & Marketing
Number of Students: School: 17,000; Fashion students: 2,700
Tuition: $17,760
The Bottom Line: The only fashion school that shows at NY Fashion Week, and they have good fashion journalism, merchandising and business programs. Plus, we love their smart student fashion blog.
6. Savannah College Of Art And Design* (Savannah, GA)
Programs: Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing & Management, Accessories Design
Number of Students: All undergrad programs: 9,800; Fashion students (includes non-design majors): 940
Tuition: $30,510
Misc: Andre Leon Talley is on the Board of Directors and a Lifetime Achievement Award is given in his name every year.
The Bottom Line: The new-ish dean, Michael Fink, is turning SCAD into a fashion powerhouse, with lots of new industry connections and faculty hires. Check out “SCAD Style” to see the high-level activities happening there. The Luxury and Fashion Management program is a standout, and pretty unique; you won’t find many comparable programs.
7. Rhode Island School Of Design* (Providence, RI)
Programs: Apparel Design, Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Textiles
Number of Students: Undergrads: 1,940; Fashion/apparel/textiles/jewelry: 200
Tuition: $39,000
Misc: You can cross-register at Brown University.
Famous Grads: Nicole Miller, Sari Gueron, Philip Crangi, Marcia Patmos, Sarah Welsh & Madeline Davy (formerly of Octopi)
The Bottom Line: One of the most respected design schools in the world, their profile as a fashion design school is only getting rosier. This is a pure design school. While small, their fashion design is still on the national radar; last fall RISD partnered with Elle magazine and showed a student fashion show at New York Fashion Week.
8. Drexel University* (Philadelphia, PA)
Programs: Fashion Design, Design & Merchandising
Number of Students: Undergrads in media arts and design: 2,800; Fashion: 120 Design and Merchandising: 260
Tuition: $39,700
The Bottom Line: Many students have won national and international awards, and gone on to study at the Chambre Syndicale and nabbed huge jobs in France. There’s a sophomore year study abroad program at the London College of Fashion. The Design & Merchandising program includes a rigorous business component to prepare you for the biz.
9. Otis College Of Art And Design *(Los Angeles, CA)
Programs: Fashion Design
Number of Students: Undergrads: 1,200; Fashion students: 180
Tuition: $34,450
Famous Grads: Rick Owens (didn’t graduate–dropped out), Cynthia Vincent
The Bottom Line: Otis is one of the top U.S. design programs in the country, so you’re going to be surrounded by design experts. They have a fashion design mentorship program headlined by top designers.
10. Columbus College Of Art & Design* (Columbus OH)
Programs: Fashion Design
Number of Students: Undergrads: 1,291; Fashion: 122
Tuition: $26,112
The Bottom Line: Ohio for some reason has three fantastic fashion design programs, and this is one of them. Again, this is another pure design school so if you’re looking for fashion business or marketing, look elsewhere. Limited Brands is headquartered in Ohio, and they frequently sponsor activities–and hire grads–from this small Midwestern design gem.
11. California College Of Arts* (San Francisco And Oakland, CA)
Programs: Fashion Design, Textiles, Jewelry Design
Number of Students: Undergrads: 1,640; Fashion students: 65 (#’s from 2010)
Tuition: $36,960
The Bottom Line: A CFDA-affiliated school, its students have won many industry awards and landed jobs with marquee-name labels and companies. One of the fashion design school’s 2011 grads was honored with Surface magazine’s “Emerging Talent” award. The design world watches this school.
12. University Of Cincinnati* (Cincinnat, OH)
Programs: Fashion Design (combined w/Product Development)
Number of Students: Undergrads: 24,000; Fashion Programs: 315
Tuition: OH residents: $10,065; Out of state: $24,588
Famous Grads: Stan Herman (former CFDA president)
The Bottom Line: The design program, in general, consistently ranks as one of the best in the nation. While this is a fashion design program, there’s a strong focus on business and marketing aspects.
13. Fashion Institutes Of Design & Merchandising (Los Angeles, CA)
Programs: Fashion Design, Footwear Design, Costume Design, Jewelry Design, Textile Design, Merchandising (Fashion & Beauty Programs)
Number of Students: 8,000 (all programs are undergrad/all are fashion-related)
Tuition: $27,000-$36,000 depending on area of study.
Misc: Most are Associate of Art degrees
Famous Grads: Monique Lhuillier, Pamela Skaist-Levy (Juicy Couture co-founder), Randolph Duke
The Bottom Line: A great vocational and design school for practical experience; FIDM also has an incredible career database for placement post-graduation. There are even beauty curricula. One recent grad got hired to tour with Rihanna as a member of her wardrobe team. You can get unique experiences here since LA is a hub of entertainment.
14. School Of The Art Institutes Of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Programs: Fashion Design
Number of Students: Undergrads: 2,500; Fashion students: 76 undergrads
Tuition: $35,940
Misc: Three-year curriculum within a four-year fine arts foundation.
Famous Grads: Cynthia Rowley, Maria Pinto, Halston, Matthew Ames
The Bottom Line: With a non-traditional fashion design program, Georgia O’Keefe’s alma mater has a serious art and design pedigree. Along with fashion design, you can delve into fiber and material studies and tack on some media studies. This is a truly artsy program with unique experiences available.
15. Massachusetts College Of Art (Boston, MA)
Programs: Fashion Design, Fibers, Jewelry
Number of Students: Undergrads: 1752; Fashion Design: 110; Fibers: 39 Metals/Jewelry: 30
Tuition: MA resident: $9,700; New England resident: $16,600; Out-of-state: $25,400
The Bottom Line: This is an historic art college with a tidy fashion design program. The school offers a cool partnership with a collective in Brazil that focuses on sustainable products and encourages employment of local women artisans.
16. Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) :
Programs: Apparel Design, Merchandising Management
Number of Students: Undergrads: 720 in the Dept. of Design & Human Development
Tuition: OR resident: $7,700 Non-resident: $21,450 (based on 15 credit hrs)
Misc: You can do merchandising management as a minor.
The Bottom Line: Want to work at a sporty or heritage apparel company? The design and merchandising programs at OSU are feeders for Nike, Pendleton, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear and Eddie Bauer, all of which are headquartered in the outdoorsy Pacific Northwest.
17. University Of Missouri (Columbia, MO)
Programs: Textile and Apparel Management–no design!! Offers a concurrent journalism minor
Number of Students: 250 undergrads in Textile & Apparel Management
Tuition: MO residents: $8,500 Non-MO residents: $19,690
The Bottom Line: This is not a design school, but a very unique program offering insights into the production and business of fashion. It’s an award-winning department with internationally respected faculty.
18. Columbia College (Chicago, IL)
Programs: Fashion Design, Fashion/Retail Management (the two programs have just been combined as Fashion Studies)
Number of Students:Undergrads: 12,000; Fashion Studies: 850
Tuition: $20,094
The Bottom Line: A small program in a big city at a cool arts school. Columbia has a comprehensive journalism program, too.
19. Baylor University(Waco, TX)
Programs: Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising
Tuition: $28,720
Misc: A fashion education within a big, fun traditional U.S. university. Be aware that it also has a Christian educational requirement.
Famous Grads: Jodi Arnold (Mint label)
The Bottom Line: Thanks to some generous donors, Baylor has the largest collection of fashion design, merchandising and product development software and technology of any university in North America, including a state-of-the-art fabric printer so students can easily make their own fabrics.
20. LIM College (New York, NY)
Programs: Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, Management, Visual Merchandising. NO DESIGN
Number of Students: 1,500 Students
Tuition: $21,650
The Bottom Line: LIM will give you thorough preparation for the behind-the-scenes aspects of the fashion business.
Best Fashion Designing Colleges in World
Pursuing a career in fashion requires a combination of expert knowledge, impeccable style, creativity, a great network, and the credentials to go with it.
But one way to receiving a good steppingstone into the tough world of fashion is by attending one of the very best fashion schools in the world. Not only do you receive a top-quality education, but you also have access to a pool of the world’s greatest lecturers, designers and stylists!
So, if you already know that fashion is the way forward, you now need to decide which school you should be aiming for to have a successful career as a fashion designer. And to help you make your decision a little easier, we bring to you the 10 best fashion schools in the world, as ranked by CEOWORLD.
10. Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
Location: Savannah, Georgia, US
The Savannah College of Art and Design is focused on preparing its students for creative professions through specialized undergraduate and postgraduate programs revolving around liberal art, architecture, design, fashion, entertainment, and business.
Their renowned School of Fashion offers courses such as fashion marketing and management, accessory design, fibers and textiles, and fashion, giving prospective students the opportunity to explore and develop their knowledge in the areas that interest them the most.
Beyond the classroom, SCAD students also have the opportunity to attend the university’s annual fashion shows and events as well as network with leading industry moguls including Carolina Herrera and Jason Wu.
9. National Institute of Fashion Technology
National Institute of Fashion Technology
Location: New Delhi, India
Founded in 1986, the National Institute of Fashion Technology has campuses all across India, welcoming students with interests in fashion design, technology and management.
The school also boasts a vast material collection, which includes fashion garments, traditional costumes and textiles. Students are encouraged to draw inspiration from India’s traditional textiles and crafts while becoming well-versed in global fashion trends.
Beyond their undergrad, postgrad and doctoral programs, NIFT’s academic catalog also includes continuing education certificate programs for seasoned professionals hoping to develop further technical knowledge and skills to become a fashion designer.
8. Bunka Fashion College
Location: Tokyo, Japan
The Bunka Fashion College has established itself as one of the most prestigious fashion schools in Asia and across the world. The school has produced numerous designers whose work has taken the world stage and has a network of alumni of over 300,000 people.
The college campus is right next door to the Shibuya district in Tokyo, which is the heart of mainstream youth culture and fashion in the city.
When it comes to academics, students can choose courses offered by one of the college’s main departments: Fashion Creation Department, Fashion Technology Department, Fashion Marketing and Distribution Department, and Fashion Accessories and Textiles Department.
7. Istituto Marangoni International
Istituto Marangoni International
Location: Milan, Italy
It’s no surprise that one of the leading fashion universities is located in the heart of the fashion capital of the world, Milan. The Istituto Marangoni is a long-standing institution dating back to 1935 when fashion designer Giulio Marangoni, who was loved by the Italian aristocrats, decided to open a training center and teach his tricks and techniques.
Since then, the school has developed and expanded its range of courses to cater to those seeking to learn more about fashion, focusing on areas including design, communication and management. With programs at both bachelor’s and master’s level, the Istituto Marangoni prides itself on its extensive education portfolio that’s constantly updated to match industry demands and evolution.
6. Parsons School of Design
Location: New York City, NY, US
Founded in 1986, this innovative school aims to deliver the very best education in the creative arts. Focusing on a more liberal teaching approach, Parsons places high importance on practice-based learning.
Its urban focus connects to its New York roots, making the school a great choice for those who get inordinate inspiration from their surroundings. During your studies, you’ll examine urban systems through the art of design, including transportation, galleries, media firms and even farms.
5. Central Saint Martins
Location: London, England
Located in the heart of London, this creative establishment, which was originally founded in the 19th century, merges a wide range of courses under one roof, including undergraduate degrees, and master’s and summer programs.
Its fashion courses, however, are among the most popular, with tailored degrees in various areas of the industry, including design, journalism, textiles, critical studies and photography.
4. School of Arts, Design and Architecture at Aalto University
Location: Espoo, Finland
This elite university located in Finland is one of a kind. Aalto University’s fashion design school is relatively new but has gained major credit in the past couple of years. Its fashion program includes two years of full-time study, along with four to six weeks working in a workshop on a personal project.
Located in the technological hub of Espoo, Aalto University prides itself on its nightlife and student support. With a large student union, you’ll be sure to make lots of fond memories while receiving a class-A education.
3. Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University
Location: Philadelphia, PA, US
Drexel University’s teaching is a bit different than your standard university. At this media and design school, classes are taught in very small groups and have a more hands-on approach to the regular theater hall lecture.
At the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, only the best teachers who have real-life experience in the field are employed. Many of them have worked at big fashion houses and even bagged a few Emmy Awards along the way!
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2. London College of Fashion
Location: London, England
At the forefront of the best fashion education is the renowned London College of Fashion. Offering a dynamic and fun university experience, you will not only receive expert knowledge from industry leaders but also be enriched by the culture and fashion that London has to offer.
With a wide range of courses, you can choose to do either an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree or even a handful of short courses, making top-notch fashion education readily available for anyone who’s interested.
1. Fashion Institute of Technology
Fashion Institute of Technology
Location: New York City, NY, US
Ranking in first place is New York City’s finest Fashion Institute of Technology. Well-known for its rigorous and adaptable education, the university helps students find their path in fashion, design and art.
From advertising and digital design to art market studies to film and media, students at FIT have a wide range of options to choose from when it comes to the programs on offer. Moreover, the school also offers precollege programs and continuing
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