by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Costume Design involves the study of Costume Design. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Design And Select Costumes For Characters In Theatre And The Performing Arts And To Serve As Part Of A Production Team. Includes Instruction In Costume Design, Script Analysis, Theory And Criticism, Period Styles, History Of Costume, Stage Makeup, Rendering, And Costume Construction. Continue reading for the essential details every costume design major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering costume design programs.
Across the country, costume design is a popular field of study, with 64 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Costume Design Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for costume design students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of costume design programs later in this article.
Coursework for Costume Design develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations costume design graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a costume design program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a costume design major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several costume design degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 14 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 21 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 18 |
People currently working in careers related to costume design tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 39.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in costume design careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in costume design opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to costume design.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to costume design.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Fashion Designers | 259,478 | -2.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of costume design graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,253 |
| 4 years | $29,200 |
| 5 years | $33,047 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for costume design graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers costume design grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fashion Designers | $53,057 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 13 different costume design programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased costume design school rankings to help you.
Those considering costume design, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | 10,778 |
| Acting | 1,859 |
| Musical Theatre | 1,157 |
| Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology | 1,087 |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting | 863 |
| Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other | 437 |
| Directing and Theatrical Production | 213 |
| Theatre and Dance | 122 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 25 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
