by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 120 U.S. colleges awarded 3,254 degrees and certificates in Fashion Design. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 63% of graduates. College Factual ranks 67 schools in its 2027 Best Fashion Design Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing, rising to $50,151 after four years.
A degree in Fashion Design explores Fashion/apparel Design. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Artistic Principles And Techniques To The Professional Design Of Commercial Fashions, Apparel, And Accessories, And The Management Of Fashion Development Projects. Includes Instruction In Apparel Design; Accessory Design; The Design Of Men's', Women's', And Children's' Wear; Flat Pattern Design; Computer-Assisted Design And Manufacturing; Concept Planning; Designing In Specific Materials; Labor And Cost Analysis; History Of Fashion; Fabric Art And Printing; And The Principles Of Management And Operations In The Fashion Industry.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, fashion design draws strong interest, with 3,254 degrees awarded annually. 120 colleges award fashion design degrees, an average of 27 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 675.
By level, the 3,254 awards include 170 certificates, 794 associate degrees, 2,037 bachelor’s degrees, 249 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 82% of fashion design degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,677 of 3,254). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,110) and Hispanic or Latino (716), and international students earned 547.
College Factual ranks 67 schools in its 2027 Best Fashion Design Schools ranking, including 21 for associate degrees, 39 for bachelor’s degrees and 10 for master’s degrees. It also ranks fashion design schools within 21 states. In all, 120 colleges offer fashion design programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Fashion Design Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common fashion design credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,037 of the 3,254 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to fashion design call most for Speaking, Instructing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
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How long a fashion design degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 170 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 794 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,037 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 249 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to fashion design, at 39.9%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Fashion Design, with an average median salary of $50,020; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Art Educator, Instructor, Adjunct Music Instructor and Adjunct Art Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to fashion design, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Fashion Designers | 259,478 | -2.9% |
Fashion Design graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing their program, $50,151 after four years and $47,460 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,258 |
| 4 years | $50,151 |
| 5 years | $47,460 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to fashion design is Fashion Designers, with a median salary of $53,057.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fashion Designers | $53,057 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Fashion Design has 9 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 36,652 degrees a year; the largest are Graphic Design (10,828), Design and Visual Communications, General (6,817) and Interior Design (5,801). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,828 |
| Design and Visual Communications, General | 6,817 |
| Interior Design | 5,801 |
| Illustration | 3,183 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 3,106 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 2,975 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other | 1,743 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 1,433 |
| Commercial Photography | 766 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
