by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Fashion Design explores Fashion/apparel Design. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Artistic Principles And Techniques To The Professional Design Of Commercial Fashions, Apparel, And Accessories, And The Management Of Fashion Development Projects. Includes Instruction In Apparel Design; Accessory Design; The Design Of Men's', Women's', And Children's' Wear; Flat Pattern Design; Computer-Assisted Design And Manufacturing; Concept Planning; Designing In Specific Materials; Labor And Cost Analysis; History Of Fashion; Fabric Art And Printing; And The Principles Of Management And Operations In The Fashion Industry. Continue reading for the essential details every fashion design student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering fashion design programs.
Across the country, fashion design draws strong interest, with 3,186 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Fashion Design Schools ranking analyzes these 121 schools to determine the best overall colleges for fashion design students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of fashion design programs later in this article.
Programs in Fashion Design build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations fashion design graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a fashion design program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a fashion design major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several fashion design degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 127 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 910 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,881 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 266 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
People currently working in careers related to fashion design tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 39.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in fashion design careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying fashion design can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to fashion design.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to fashion design.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Fashion Designers | 259,478 | -2.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of fashion design graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,054 |
| 4 years | $41,389 |
| 5 years | $46,982 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for fashion design graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers fashion design grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fashion Designers | $53,057 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 121 different fashion design programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased fashion design school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in fashion design, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,676 |
| Design and Visual Communications, General | 6,186 |
| Interior Design | 5,651 |
| Illustration | 3,192 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 2,987 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 2,986 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other | 1,640 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 1,395 |
| Commercial Photography | 899 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
