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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Fashion Merchandising Schools in the Great Lakes Region

4 Colleges in the United States
265 Fashion Merchandising Degrees Awarded
$32,624 Avg Early-Career Salary

Fashion Merchandising is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best fashion merchandising schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Fashion Merchandising in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall fashion merchandising education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Fashion Merchandising

1

Kent State University At Kent is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in fashion merchandising. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 214 fashion merchandising degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fashion merchandising degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $36,625. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Read more about the fashion merchandising program at Kent State University At Kent

2

Students looking for a strong fashion merchandising program will find one at Ball State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 fashion merchandising degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $35,904 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $25,583 in student loans. Read more about the fashion merchandising program at Ball State University

3

A rank of #3 makes Western Michigan University one of the top schools for fashion merchandising. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 15 fashion merchandising degrees in the most recent data year. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $28,765 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Get the full fashion merchandising details for Western Michigan University

4
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best fashion merchandising schools. This large public university is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 fashion merchandising students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fashion merchandising program make about $29,203 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in fashion merchandising from Central Michigan University

Narrow Fashion Merchandising Schools by State

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View All Fashion Merchandising Rankings >

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 21 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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