2027 Best Value Fashion Design Master’s Degree Schools
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fashion design students.
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2027 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the United States
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 University Of North Texas the best value for a degree in fashion design in the United States. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $22,288 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $33,867. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fashion design schools. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $18,500. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $20,692. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Students looking for strong value in fashion design will find it at Washington University In St Louis, which ranked #3. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,089 to complete the fashion design program here. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $33,615. Set against $19,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion design, landing the #4 spot this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $36,351. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Arizona State University Skysong is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fashion design, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $21,500. Fashion Design graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $55,394 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value fashion design schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,645 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University placed #7 among the best values for fashion design. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $27,000. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $38,154. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Syracuse University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value fashion design schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $46,181. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Academy Of Art University earned the #9 position for value in fashion design this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. Students borrow a median of $33,312 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Academy Of Art University generally make around $38,358. That is a strong return on a $33,312 median debt.
Savannah College Of Art And Design placed #10 among the best values for fashion design. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,630. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Savannah College Of Art And Design generally make around $40,987. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Savannah College Of Art And Design admits about 83% of applicants.
Otis College Of Art And Design earned the #11 position for value in fashion design this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,488. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Otis College Of Art And Design generally make around $31,172. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Pratt Institute Main came in at #12 for value in fashion design this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,845. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $19,000. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $45,720. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
California College Of The Arts landed the #13 spot for fashion design value 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. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $27,000. Early-career fashion design graduates make about $28,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The New School landed the #14 spot for fashion design value this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Students borrow a median of $23,606 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of The New School earn a median of $39,393 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,606 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Other Fashion Design Degree Levels
Explore the best-value fashion design schools at other degree levels:
View All Fashion Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
