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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the Far Western Region

6 Colleges in the United States
$14,821 Avg Student Debt
$46,859 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Fashion Design Badge [Fashion Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for fashion design students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the Far Western Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fashion design degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Fashion Design Schools

1

Leading the list is San Diego Mesa College, our #1 best value for fashion design in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2
Canada College crest
Canada College
Redwood City, CA

Students looking for strong value in fashion design will find it at Canada College, which ranked #2. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,384. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Canada College earn a median of $106,691 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

3
West Valley College crest
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Valley College earned it the #3 place for fashion design. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Irvine Valley College earned it the #4 place for fashion design. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the fashion design program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.

5

Students looking for strong value in fashion design will find it at College Of The Sequoias, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $10,288. Fashion Design graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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6
Saddleback College crest
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA

Saddleback College earned the #6 position for value in fashion design this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $5,707. Fashion Design graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7

Mt San Antonio College came in at #7 for value in fashion design this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $44,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8
Santa Monica College crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College earned the #8 position for value in fashion design this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.

9
Orange Coast College crest
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA

Orange Coast College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the fashion design program here. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $46,306. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.

10
Sierra College crest
Sierra College
Rocklin, CA

Sierra College landed the #10 spot for fashion design value this year. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,446. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $12,733. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $29,214. Set against $12,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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11
American River College crest
American River College
Sacramento, CA

American River College came in at #11 for value in fashion design this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $14,105. Fashion Design graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Set against $14,105 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12
Long Beach City College crest
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA

Long Beach City College landed the #12 spot for fashion design value this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,556, compared with $12,544 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $6,000. Median earnings reach $38,870 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.

13

Santa Rosa Junior College placed #13 among the best values for fashion design. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.

14
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA

Palomar College placed #14 among the best values for fashion design. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,354, compared with $10,650 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,300 ten years after entry.

15

Lake Washington Institute Of Technology ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete the fashion design program here. 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.

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Chaffey College crest
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Chaffey College earned the #16 position for value in fashion design this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,184, compared with $11,120 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $6,952. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $23,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

17

Seattle Community College Central Campus placed #17 among the best values for fashion design. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,238 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,796. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $14,085. Fashion Design graduates of Seattle Community College Central Campus earn a median of $29,775 early in their careers. Set against $14,085 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

18

City College Of San Francisco earned the #18 position for value in fashion design this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,696 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Set against $10,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

19
Fullerton College crest
Fullerton College
Fullerton, CA

Fullerton College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,151, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,366 ten years out.

20

San Joaquin Delta College placed #20 among the best values for fashion design. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $6,382. Fashion Design graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,382 median debt.

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21

Los Angeles Trade Technical College landed the #21 spot for fashion design value this year. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $14,833. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $53,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

22

Oregon State University earned the #22 position for value in fashion design this year. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $23,419 to complete the fashion design program here. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $35,614. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.

23

Seattle Pacific University earned the #23 position for value in fashion design this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,407. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $39,248. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Seattle Pacific University admits about 83% of applicants.

24
Academy Of Art University crest
Academy Of Art University
San Francisco, CA

Academy Of Art University earned the #24 position for value in fashion design this year. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $33,312 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Academy Of Art University generally make around $28,555. That is a strong return on a $33,312 median debt.

25

Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles placed #25 among the best values for fashion design. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles is a small private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,000. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $21,833. Fashion Design graduates of Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles earn a median of $25,436 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Fashion Design Schools

Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in fashion design:

26
27

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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