Fashion Design Schools

Table of Contents

Fashion Design School
Today’s fashion industry is built on the creativity of individuals with a distinct vision and a mastery of popular style, construction, branding, and apparel. Students interested in becoming a leader in the world of fashion must develop expertise in components of art, such as color, shape, texture, and form while building knowledge of cultural traditions and principles of design.

What Are Fashion Design Schools?

Fashion design schools are educational institutions that enable students to gain a deeper understanding of fashion design and the fashion industry in general. Along with the basic fundamental skills needed to pursue a fashion career, students will also learn advanced skills and get a chance to hone their existing skills. In general, aspiring fashion designers have a few different choices when choosing fashion design schools or schools that offer fashion degree programs.

Traditional Universities and Colleges

Traditional universities and colleges may offer fashion design degree programs, for instance. These types of educational institutes offer traditional college experiences, paired with a well-rounded education. They are often perfect for students who are looking to earn a degree in fashion, yet still wish to take some of the more traditional electives.

Art & Fashion Institutes

Art institutes may be more suited to more artistic students. These types of schools often offer many different art and design degrees, including fashion design degrees. Unlike traditional colleges and universities, these types of schools offer mainly art courses. Fashion design schools, or fashion institutes, on the other hand, are generally geared more toward those with fashion on the brain. These schools are all about fashion, and the majority of the classes have something to do with fashion. Individuals attending fashion institutes, whether for fashion design degrees or fashion degrees, can often take additional classes to explore all areas of fashion.

School Rankings

The 10 Best Fashion Schools in the U.S.

Each year, our experts analyze data from hundreds of qualifying programs to create a comprehensive ranking of the best fashion schools in the U.S. The 10 schools ranked here represent the best of the best, with each earning exceptional scores in key areas such as academic strength, percentage of students working in fashion within 6 months of graduation, location, school reputation, financial aid, and strength of faculty. 

Best Colleges
Fashion Institute of Technology

227 West 27th Street, New York City 10001

4.7/5
Parsons School of Design

66 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011

4.7/5
Savannah College of Art and Design

516 Drayton St, Savannah, GA 31401

4.5/5
Drexel University Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

4.6/5
Pratt Institute

200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

4.5/5
Kent State School of Fashion

515 Hilltop Drive, Kent, Ohio 44242

4.5/5
Rhode Island School of Design

20 Washington Place, Providence, RI 02903

4.5/5
Thomas Jefferson University

1020 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

4.4/5
Otis College of Art & Design

9045 Lincoln Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

4.5/5
Cornell University

616 Thurston Ave., Ithaca, NY 14853

4.5/5

Our Approach to Rankings

In the competitive world of fashion, who is teaching the courses can be as important as the content covered. Networking and exposure to the industry in action can be invaluable to the career-driven student. For these reasons, evaluating which fashion design school is right for you can be a difficult and frustrating endeavor. To assist in your search, we have used our resources to collect and compile valuable data regarding educational options in the world of fashion design. Here is a list of the schools we believe to offer you the very best chances for success in your personal and career goals.

Contributing Data Sources