2026 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the Southwest Region
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for fashion design students.
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2026 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fashion design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fashion Design Schools
Leading the list is El Centro College, our #1 best value for fashion design in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $11,835 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $31,478. That is a strong return on a $11,835 median debt.
Pima Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion design, landing the #2 spot this year. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $40,977. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Austin Community College District earned it the #3 place for fashion design. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $19,939. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $40,289. That is a strong return on a $19,939 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in fashion design will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Houston Community College one of the best values for fashion design. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $19,223 in student loans. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $40,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas Womans University came in at #6 for value in fashion design this year. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete the fashion design program here. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $54,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Mesa Community College earned the #7 position for value in fashion design this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Phoenix College earned the #8 position for value in fashion design this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Phoenix College earn a median of $51,053 early in their careers. Set against $15,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $21,500. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $41,589. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $22,288. Fashion Design graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $33,867 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,288 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for fashion design value this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $22,337. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $50,993. That is a strong return on a $22,337 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Texas Tech University came in at #12 for value in fashion design this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $24,271. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of The Incarnate Word ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,090. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of University Of The Incarnate Word earn a median of $27,986 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Wade College earned the #14 position for value in fashion design this year. Wade College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,680. Students borrow a median of $38,214 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of Wade College earn a median of $24,200 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clary Sage College came in at #15 for value in fashion design this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Clary Sage College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $10,941 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Clary Sage College earn a median of $17,889 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Baylor University earned the #16 position for value in fashion design this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $39,333. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
