by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 84 U.S. colleges awarded 2,570 degrees and certificates in Fashion Merchandising. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 66% of graduates. College Factual ranks 39 schools in its 2027 Best Fashion Merchandising Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,124 one year after completing, rising to $59,835 after four years.
A major in Fashion Merchandising explores Fashion Merchandising. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Promote Product Lines/brands, And Organize Promotional Campaigns, At The Wholesale Level To Attract Retailer Interest, Wholesale Purchasing, And Supply Contracts. Includes Instruction In Wholesaling, Wholesale Advertising, Selling, And Customer Relations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, fashion merchandising draws strong interest, with 2,570 degrees awarded annually. 84 colleges award fashion merchandising degrees, an average of 31 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,003.
By level, the 2,570 awards include 19 certificates, 813 associate degrees, 1,685 bachelor’s degrees and 53 master’s degrees.
Women earned 88% of fashion merchandising degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,269 of 2,570). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,263) and Hispanic or Latino (493), and international students earned 232.
College Factual ranks 39 schools in its 2027 Best Fashion Merchandising Schools ranking, including 12 for associate degrees, 30 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks fashion merchandising schools within 15 states. In all, 84 colleges offer fashion merchandising programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Fashion Merchandising Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common fashion merchandising credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,685 of the 2,570 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to fashion merchandising call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Negotiation, and for knowledge of Sales and Marketing, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a fashion merchandising degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 19 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 813 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,685 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 53 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to fashion merchandising, at 40.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 40.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.1% |
| Some college courses | 12.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Fashion Merchandising, with an average median salary of $70,420; the strongest outlook belongs to Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products, at 6.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Exporter, Jewelry Sales Representative, Household Appliances Sales Representative and Wholesale Diamond Broker.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to fashion merchandising, at 1,332,640.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,332,640 | 6.0% |
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | 465,393 | 2.6% |
Fashion Merchandising graduates earn a median $38,124 one year after completing their program, $59,835 after four years and $51,544 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,124 |
| 4 years | $59,835 |
| 5 years | $51,544 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to fashion merchandising is Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products, with a median salary of $111,183.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | $111,183 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $29,657 |
Fashion Merchandising has 9 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 786 degrees a year; the largest are Special Products Marketing Operations (207), Specialized Merchandising, Sales, and Marketing Operations, Other (195) and Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations (141). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
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