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2026 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fashion design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fashion Design Schools
Cuny Queens College tops our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools in the United States. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the fashion design program here. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $19,349. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Lake Washington Institute Of Technology one of the best values for fashion design. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $19,695. Fashion Design graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Brigham Young University Idaho one of the best values for fashion design. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $13,287. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. That is a strong return on a $13,287 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #4 makes Texas Womans University one of the best values for fashion design. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $54,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #5 place for fashion design. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $35,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
ADBLOCK #101
Escuela De Artes Plasticas De Puerto Rico ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Escuela De Artes Plasticas De Puerto Rico is a small public school located in the city of San Juan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,902, compared with $8,502 for out-of-state students. Fashion Design graduates of Escuela De Artes Plasticas De Puerto Rico earn a median of $7,453 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Universidad Del Turabo came in at #7 for value in fashion design this year. Located in the suburb of Gurabo, Universidad Del Turabo is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $7,750 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $11,250. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $7,580. Set against $11,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ferris State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $27,000. Fashion Design graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $34,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas landed the #9 spot for fashion design value this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $22,288. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $33,867. That is a strong return on a $22,288 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #10 spot for fashion design value this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Students borrow a median of $21,064 to complete the fashion design program here. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $26,421. Set against $21,064 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Montclair State University placed #11 among the best values for fashion design. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $26,027 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University came in at #12 for value in fashion design this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $22,000. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $36,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in fashion design this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $22,337. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $50,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Delaware earned the #14 position for value in fashion design this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $42,585 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
Central Michigan University landed the #15 spot for fashion design value this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $36,917 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University came in at #16 for value in fashion design this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $53,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus placed #17 among the best values for fashion design. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $34,981. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Located in the city of Ponce, Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,650. Students borrow a median of $17,124 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce generally make around $18,132. Set against $17,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce admits about 98% of applicants.
Villa Maria College earned the #19 position for value in fashion design this year. Villa Maria College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $28,670 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $15,395. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Villa Maria College generally make around $31,909. That is a strong return on a $15,395 median debt. Villa Maria College admits about 87% of applicants.
Western Michigan University came in at #20 for value in fashion design this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $27,000. Fashion Design graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $39,077 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Suny College At Oneonta earned the #21 position for value in fashion design this year. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, compared with $19,781 for out-of-state students. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $22,046 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Suny College At Oneonta earn a median of $36,629 early in their careers. Set against $22,046 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Oregon State University placed #22 among the best values for fashion design. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $23,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $35,614. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Lindenwood University landed the #23 spot for fashion design value this year. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $48,197 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent placed #24 among the best values for fashion design. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $36,351. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $25,937 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $25,872. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Fashion Design Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fashion design value ranking:
Other Fashion Design Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Fashion Design rankings across degree levels:
[Fashion Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
