2027 Best Fashion Design Associate’s Degree Schools
Fashion Design is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fashion design students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Fashion Design in the United States
These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in fashion design, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Fashion Design
Fashion Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in fashion design. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Fashion Institute Of Technology awarded about 367 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fashion design program make about $14,361 in their early career. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
See the full fashion design program report for Fashion Institute Of Technology
Students looking for a strong fashion design program will find one at The New School, which ranked #2. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The New School graduates 70% of students within six years. About 38 fashion design degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Fashion Design graduates of The New School earn a median of $44,640 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,211.
Read more about the fashion design program at The New School
Students looking for a strong fashion design program will find one at Seattle Community College Central Campus, which ranked #3. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 15 fashion design degrees were awarded at Seattle Community College Central Campus in the most recent year. Fashion Design graduates of Seattle Community College Central Campus earn a median of $29,775 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,085.
Read more about the fashion design program at Seattle Community College Central Campus
Salt Lake Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fashion design, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. About 14 fashion design degrees were awarded at Salt Lake Community College in the most recent year. Fashion Design graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $34,227 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,766.
Read more about the fashion design program at Salt Lake Community College
Students looking for a strong fashion design program will find one at Austin Community College District, which ranked #5. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. About 11 fashion design degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Fashion Design graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $40,289 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,939.
Get the full fashion design details for Austin Community College District
Pratt Institute Main placed #6 among the best fashion design schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Brooklyn. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 55 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $40,880. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in fashion design from Pratt Institute Main
Orange Coast College landed the #7 spot for fashion design this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 11 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fashion design degree from Orange Coast College earn around $46,306 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,978.
Get the full fashion design details for Orange Coast College
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best fashion design schools. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Minneapolis Community And Technical College awarded about 14 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fashion design degree from Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn around $40,230 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,601.
Read more about the fashion design program at Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Miami Dade College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best fashion design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Miami. About 19 fashion design degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $30,466. Typical student debt for the program is $11,967.
More information about a degree in fashion design from Miami Dade College
Nassau Community College came in at #10 for fashion design this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 14 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Nassau Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fashion design degree from Nassau Community College earn around $18,107 in the first couple years of their career. Nassau Community College graduates carry a median of $10,600 in student loans.
Read more about the fashion design program at Nassau Community College
El Centro College earned the #11 position for fashion design this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. El Centro College awarded about 10 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year. Fashion Design graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,478 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,835 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fashion design from El Centro College
Santa Monica College placed #12 among the best fashion design schools. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. Santa Monica College graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Santa Monica College in the most recent data year.
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West Valley College landed the #13 spot for fashion design this year. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. West Valley College awarded about 11 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Typical student debt for the program is $14,308.
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Palomar College earned the #14 position for fashion design this year. Palomar College is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Palomar College awarded about 10 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full fashion design program report for Palomar College
Cuny Kingsborough Community College landed the #15 spot for fashion design this year. Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. There were roughly 27 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent data year. Fashion Design graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of $19,146 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,858.
More information about a degree in fashion design from Cuny Kingsborough Community College
El Paso Community College came in at #16 for fashion design this year. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. About 10 fashion design degrees were awarded at El Paso Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. El Paso Community College graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fashion design from El Paso Community College
Wade College placed #17 among the best fashion design schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Dallas. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 fashion design degrees were awarded at Wade College in the most recent year. Fashion Design graduates of Wade College earn a median of $24,200 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $38,214.
Read more about the fashion design program at Wade College
Los Angeles Trade Technical College placed #18 among the best fashion design schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public university. About 17 fashion design degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fashion design degree from Los Angeles Trade Technical College earn around $53,553 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,833.
Read more about the fashion design program at Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Houston Community College earned the #19 position for fashion design this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. There were roughly 20 fashion design students who graduated with this degree at Houston Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. Typical student debt for the program is $19,223.
Read more about the fashion design program at Houston Community College
Academy Of Art University earned the #20 position for fashion design this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 31 fashion design degrees were awarded at Academy Of Art University in the most recent year. Fashion Design graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $26,478 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $33,437.
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Universidad Del Turabo placed #21 among the best fashion design schools. Universidad Del Turabo is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gurabo. About 31% of students finish within six years. Universidad Del Turabo awarded about 11 fashion design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fashion design degree recipients from Universidad Del Turabo generally make around $7,580. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fashion design program at Universidad Del Turabo
Other Fashion Design Degree Levels
Explore the best fashion design schools at other degree levels:
View All Fashion Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 21 schools evaluated.
- 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.
