ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in Ohio

4 Colleges in the United States
$26,463 Avg Student Debt
$47,190 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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for fashion design students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 2
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 50.04), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Fashion Merchandising (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Fashion Merchandising (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Fashion Merchandising (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Fashion Merchandising (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget

2026 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in Ohio

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fashion design, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Fashion Design Schools

1

For return on investment in fashion design, no school beat Kent State University At Kent this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $36,351. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.

2

Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $27,000. Fashion Design graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,645 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the best values for fashion design. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $25,851 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $52,526 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,851 median debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.

4

Columbus College Of Art And Design came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,825. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fashion design program here. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $27,970. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #173
View All Fashion Design Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

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 · 6 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options