2026 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in California
[Fashion Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value fashion design schools.
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2026 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fashion design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fashion Design Schools
Our analysis ranked San Diego Mesa College the best value for a degree in fashion design in California. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $6,999. Fashion Design graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,999 median debt.
Canada College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion design, landing the #2 spot this year. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,384. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $15,000. Fashion Design graduates of Canada College earn a median of $106,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Valley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion design, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $25,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the fashion design program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in fashion design will find it at College Of The Sequoias, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Saddleback College landed the #6 spot for fashion design value this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $5,707. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $15,890. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College landed the #7 spot for fashion design value this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
Orange Coast College came in at #9 for value in fashion design this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,392 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sierra College placed #10 among the best values for fashion design. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,446. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Sierra College generally make around $29,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American River College earned the #11 position for value in fashion design this year. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $14,105. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt.
Long Beach City College placed #12 among the best values for fashion design. Set in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,556, with out-of-state students paying around $12,544. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $6,000. Median earnings reach $38,870 ten years out. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #13 position for value in fashion design this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $14,692. Fashion Design graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palomar College earned the #14 position for value in fashion design this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,354 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
Chaffey College came in at #15 for value in fashion design this year. Chaffey College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga. In-state tuition and fees average $1,184, with out-of-state students paying around $11,120. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City College Of San Francisco earned the #16 position for value in fashion design this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,696, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fullerton College landed the #17 spot for fashion design value this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,151 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,366 ten years out.
San Joaquin Delta College placed #18 among the best values for fashion design. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $6,382. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $65,168. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $14,833. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Los Angeles Trade Technical College generally make around $53,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Academy Of Art University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value fashion design schools. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $33,312. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Academy Of Art University generally make around $28,555. That is a strong return on a $33,312 median debt.
Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles came in at #21 for value in fashion design this year. Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,000. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $21,833. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles generally make around $25,436. Set against $21,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California College Of The Arts came in at #22 for value in fashion design this year. California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $60,226. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from California College Of The Arts generally make around $28,673. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. California College Of The Arts admits about 91% of applicants.
Otis College Of Art And Design landed the #23 spot for fashion design value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,488. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Otis College Of Art And Design generally make around $31,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Fashion Design Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
