2026 Best Value Apparel & Textile Manufacture Schools in California
[Apparel & Textile Manufacture](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/apparel-textile-studies/apparel-and-textile-manufacture/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value apparel & textile manufacture schools.
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2026 Best Value Apparel & Textile Manufacture Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in apparel & textile manufacture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Apparel & Textile Manufacture Schools
Leading the list is Santa Ana College, our #1 best value for apparel & textile manufacture in California. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Apparel & Textile Manufacture graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, apparel & textile manufacture degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Orange Coast College earned it the #2 place for apparel & textile manufacture. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the apparel & textile manufacture program here. Early-career apparel & textile manufacture graduates make about $46,306. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Academy Of Art University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in apparel & textile manufacture, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $30,736 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the apparel & textile manufacture program here. Early-career apparel & textile manufacture graduates make about $27,630. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in apparel & textile manufacture will find it at Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,133 to complete the apparel & textile manufacture program here. Soon after graduation, apparel & textile manufacture degree recipients from Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles generally make around $28,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
