2027 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the Southwest Region
[Fashion Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/fashion-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for fashion design students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Fashion Design Schools in the Southwest Region
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
Leading the list is El Paso Community College, our #1 best value for fashion design in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes El Centro College one of the best values for fashion design. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $11,835 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $31,478. Set against $11,835 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in fashion design will find it at Austin Community College District, which ranked #3. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $19,939 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $40,289 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value fashion design schools. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in fashion design will find it at Mesa Community College, which ranked #5. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $13,750. Fashion Design graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Phoenix College landed the #6 spot for fashion design value this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $15,204. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Phoenix College generally make around $51,053. That is a strong return on a $15,204 median debt.
Arizona State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value fashion design schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $41,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas came in at #8 for value in fashion design this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. That is a strong return on a $22,288 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value fashion design schools. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $22,337 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $50,993. That is a strong return on a $22,337 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University placed #10 among the best values for fashion design. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the fashion design program here. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Wade College placed #11 among the best values for fashion design. Wade College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,680. Students borrow a median of $38,214 to complete the fashion design program here. Fashion Design graduates of Wade College earn a median of $24,200 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $38,214 median debt.
University Of The Incarnate Word landed the #12 spot for fashion design value this year. University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $37,090. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from University Of The Incarnate Word generally make around $27,986. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of The Incarnate Word admits about 98% of applicants.
Clary Sage College came in at #13 for value in fashion design this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Clary Sage College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Typical student debt for fashion design graduates is $10,941. Fashion Design graduates of Clary Sage College earn a median of $17,889 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
Baylor University came in at #14 for value in fashion design this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Fashion Design graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Fashion Design graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $39,333 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
