2027 Best Value Fashion Merchandising Associate’s Degree Schools
[Fashion Merchandising](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/specialized-sales-merchandising-marketing/fashion-merchandising/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for fashion merchandising students.
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2027 Best Value Fashion Merchandising Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fashion merchandising, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fashion Merchandising Schools
Miami Dade College earned the #1 spot for value among fashion merchandising schools in the United States. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Students borrow a median of $11,967 to complete the fashion merchandising program here. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nassau Community College earned it the #2 place for fashion merchandising. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Early-career fashion merchandising graduates make about $38,734. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Houston Community College earned it the #3 place for fashion merchandising. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $19,223. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion merchandising, landing the #4 spot this year. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $11,492. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $27,276 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Genesee Community College earned it the #5 place for fashion merchandising. Set in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,900, while out-of-state students pay about $6,500. Students borrow a median of $15,991 to complete the fashion merchandising program here. Soon after graduation, fashion merchandising degree recipients from Genesee Community College generally make around $40,106. That is a strong return on a $15,991 median debt.
Brookdale Community College landed the #6 spot for fashion merchandising value this year. Set in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,270, compared with $10,140 for out-of-state students. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Early-career fashion merchandising graduates make about $37,374. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Johnson County Community College earned the #7 position for value in fashion merchandising this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $13,532 in student loans. Early-career fashion merchandising graduates make about $46,473. That is a strong return on a $13,532 median debt.
Fashion Institute Of Technology earned the #8 position for value in fashion merchandising this year. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $12,000. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $23,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Fashion Institute Of Technology admits about 60% of applicants.
Berkeley College New York ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value fashion merchandising schools. Berkeley College New York is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $28,529 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $21,707. Fashion Merchandising graduates of Berkeley College New York earn a median of $19,623 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,707 median debt.
Southern New Hampshire University landed the #10 spot for fashion merchandising value this year. Set in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,200. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $27,194 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion merchandising degree recipients from Southern New Hampshire University generally make around $41,181. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Lim College placed #11 among the best values for fashion merchandising. Located in the city of New York, Lim College is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,504. Typical student debt for fashion merchandising graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, fashion merchandising degree recipients from Lim College generally make around $35,708. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The New School came in at #12 for value in fashion merchandising this year. Set in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Fashion Merchandising graduates carry a median of $24,460 in student loans. Early-career fashion merchandising graduates make about $41,562. That is a strong return on a $24,460 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other Fashion Merchandising Degree Levels
Explore the best-value fashion merchandising schools at other degree levels:
View All Fashion Merchandising Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
