by our College Data Analytics Team
[Textile & Apparel Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/apparel-textile-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value textile & apparel studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in textile & apparel studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in textile & apparel studies, no school beat El Centro College this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for textile & apparel studies graduates is $14,557. Early-career textile & apparel studies graduates make about $41,295. Set against $14,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value textile & apparel studies schools. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Students borrow a median of $19,026 to complete the textile & apparel studies program here. Textile & Apparel Studies graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,860 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,026 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Central Oklahoma came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value textile & apparel studies schools. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Textile & Apparel Studies graduates carry a median of $23,321 in student loans. Textile & Apparel Studies graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $44,085 early in their careers. Set against $23,321 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in textile & apparel studies will find it at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $24,812 to complete the textile & apparel studies program here. Early-career textile & apparel studies graduates make about $37,245. That is a strong return on a $24,812 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.