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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Fashion Design Associate’s Degree Schools

13 Colleges in the United States
829 Fashion Design Degrees Awarded
$35,005 Avg Early-Career Salary

Fashion Design programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 142 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best fashion design schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Fashion Design in the United States

Below are the best fashion design schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.

Top Schools in Fashion Design

1
Pratt Institute Main crest
Pratt Institute Main
Brooklyn, NY

Our analysis ranked Pratt Institute Main the best school in the country for a degree in fashion design. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pratt Institute Main awarded about 49 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year. Fashion Design graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $40,880 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. See the full fashion design program report for Pratt Institute Main

2

A rank of #2 makes Fashion Institute Of Technology one of the top schools for fashion design. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. About 357 fashion design degrees were awarded at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $14,361. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in fashion design from Fashion Institute Of Technology

3
The New School crest
The New School
New York, NY

The New School came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best fashion design schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The New School graduates 70% of students within six years. The New School awarded about 27 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fashion design program make about $44,640 in their early career. The New School graduates carry a median of $21,211 in student loans. Read more about the fashion design program at The New School

4

A rank of #4 makes Johnson County Community College one of the top schools for fashion design. This very large public university is located in the city of Overland Park. About 12 fashion design degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fashion design program make about $32,030 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fashion design from Johnson County Community College

5
Salt Lake Community College crest
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake City, UT

A rank of #5 makes Salt Lake Community College one of the top schools for fashion design. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. There were roughly 17 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Salt Lake Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fashion design degree from Salt Lake Community College earn around $34,227 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,766. Read more about the fashion design program at Salt Lake Community College

6

Seattle Community College Central Campus came in at #6 for fashion design this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Community College Central Campus awarded about 27 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fashion design degree from Seattle Community College Central Campus earn around $29,775 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,085 to complete this degree. Read more about the fashion design program at Seattle Community College Central Campus

7
Burlington County College crest
Burlington County College
Mount Laurel, NJ

Burlington County College landed the #7 spot for fashion design this year. Burlington County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Mount Laurel. About 10 fashion design degrees were awarded at Burlington County College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fashion design degree from Burlington County College earn around $52,240 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,488 to complete this degree. See the full fashion design program report for Burlington County College

8

Miami Dade College placed #8 among the best fashion design schools. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. About 23 fashion design degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fashion design program make about $30,466 in their early career. Miami Dade College graduates carry a median of $11,967 in student loans. Read more about the fashion design program at Miami Dade College

9
Santa Monica College crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best fashion design schools. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Santa Monica College in the most recent data year. Read more about the fashion design program at Santa Monica College

10

Mt San Antonio College placed #10 among the best fashion design schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. There were roughly 12 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fashion design program make about $44,391 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384. More information about a degree in fashion design from Mt San Antonio College

11
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA

Palomar College landed the #11 spot for fashion design this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. There were roughly 10 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Palomar College in the most recent data year. See the full fashion design program report for Palomar College

12

Cuny Kingsborough Community College earned the #12 position for fashion design this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 20 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $19,146. Cuny Kingsborough Community College graduates carry a median of $7,858 in student loans. Read more about the fashion design program at Cuny Kingsborough Community College

13

Suny Westchester Community College placed #13 among the best fashion design schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Valhalla. There were roughly 10 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Suny Westchester Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. Typical student debt for the program is $8,764. More information about a degree in fashion design from Suny Westchester Community College

14

Houston Community College earned the #14 position for fashion design this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. About 15 fashion design degrees were awarded at Houston Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fashion design program make about $40,365 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,223. More information about a degree in fashion design from Houston Community College

15
Wade College crest
Wade College
Dallas, TX

Wade College came in at #15 for fashion design this year. Wade College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. There were roughly 13 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Wade College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Wade College generally make around $24,200. Students borrow a median of $38,214 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fashion design from Wade College

16

Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #16 for fashion design this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public institution. About 18 fashion design degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the most recent year. Fashion Design graduates of Los Angeles Trade Technical College earn a median of $53,553 early in their careers. Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans. Read more about the fashion design program at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

17

Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles placed #17 among the best fashion design schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 171 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fashion design program make about $24,393 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,165. Get the full fashion design details for Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles

18

Clary Sage College earned the #18 position for fashion design this year. Clary Sage College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. Clary Sage College awarded about 18 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fashion design program make about $17,889 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fashion design from Clary Sage College

Other Fashion Design Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Fashion Design rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Fashion Design
Bachelor's Degrees in Fashion Design
Master's Degrees in Fashion Design
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View All Fashion Design Rankings >

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 142 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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