2026 Best Value Fashion Merchandising Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Fashion Merchandising](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/specialized-sales-merchandising-marketing/fashion-merchandising/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fashion merchandising students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Fashion Merchandising Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fashion merchandising degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fashion Merchandising Schools
For return on investment in fashion merchandising, no school beat Nassau Community College this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete the fashion merchandising program here. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,850 median debt.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion merchandising, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $11,492. Soon after graduation, fashion merchandising degree recipients from Cuny New York City College Of Technology generally make around $27,276. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Brookdale Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion merchandising, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,270, with out-of-state students paying around $10,140. Students borrow a median of $12,651 to complete the fashion merchandising program here. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Genesee Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion merchandising, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,900, with out-of-state students paying around $6,500. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $15,991 in student loans. Early-career fashion merchandising graduates make about $40,106. Set against $15,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Fashion Institute Of Technology one of the best values for fashion merchandising. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $16,750. Soon after graduation, fashion merchandising degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $33,248. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Berkeley College Woodland Park ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion merchandising schools. Berkeley College Woodland Park is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Woodland Park. In-state tuition and fees average $28,320. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $25,464 in student loans. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Berkeley College Woodland Park earn a median of $30,761 early in their careers. Set against $25,464 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion merchandising schools. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,432. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $25,211 in student loans. Early-career fashion merchandising graduates make about $61,547. Set against $25,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Berkeley College New York earned the #8 position for value in fashion merchandising this year. Berkeley College New York is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,529. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $29,604. Early-career fashion merchandising graduates make about $26,682. Set against $29,604 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mercyhurst College earned the #9 position for value in fashion merchandising this year. Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Erie. In-state tuition and fees average $45,770. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $26,950. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Mercyhurst College earn a median of $29,078 early in their careers. Set against $26,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Thomas Jefferson University landed the #10 spot for fashion merchandising value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $47,355. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the fashion merchandising program here. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $40,407 early in their careers. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount Manhattan College landed the #11 spot for fashion merchandising value this year. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,870 in tuition and fees. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $25,594 in student loans. Early-career fashion merchandising graduates make about $30,533. That is a strong return on a $25,594 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Lim College came in at #12 for value in fashion merchandising this year. Lim College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,504. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Lim College earn a median of $35,708 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Marist College placed #13 among the best values for fashion merchandising. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,620. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion merchandising degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $47,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
The New School landed the #14 spot for fashion merchandising value this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $24,460. Fashion Merchandising graduates of The New School earn a median of $41,562 early in their careers. Set against $24,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Fashion Merchandising Schools by State
More Fashion Merchandising Rankings
View All Fashion Merchandising Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.