Fashion Schools and Programs in The United States

Fashion Studies in The United States

Fashion as a field of study covers two connected areas. Fashion design deals with creating clothing, accessories and footwear, from illustration and pattern making to construction and textiles. Fashion merchandising, also called fashion management or retail studies, deals with the business side: buying, product development, sourcing, branding and retail. In the United States both are taught at art and design schools, at public universities and at community colleges, and many programmes let students choose one of the two directions.

How the degree is organised

There are three main levels of study.

• Associate degrees and certificates, usually at community and technical colleges. American River College in Sacramento offers two programme options, Fashion Design and Merchandising, and Alexandria Technical & Community College in Minnesota offers an Associate of Applied Science in Fashion Management that includes an internship
• Bachelor's degrees, which according to EducationUSA are usually completed in four years of full-time study. Titles vary: the Academy of Art University in San Francisco lists the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) among its fashion degrees, while The Ohio State University awards a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology in Fashion and Retail Studies
• Graduate degrees. The Academy of Art University lists MA and MFA degrees in its School of Fashion; EducationUSA describes the master's as a two-year degree providing additional specialisation

University programmes are often divided into tracks. Colorado State University's Major in Apparel and Merchandising has three concentrations: Apparel Design and Production, Merchandising, and Product Development. The design concentration includes fashion illustration, pattern development, apparel construction techniques and computer-aided design; the merchandising concentration includes consumer behaviour, assortment planning, merchandise buying and global sourcing. Ohio State has a Merchandising track and a Product Development track.

Students who start at a community college can continue at a university. EducationUSA describes this "2+2" route as two years of community college followed by two years of university study to earn a bachelor's degree.

Portfolio, admission and language

The portfolio is central in design programmes. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that students work on projects they can add to their portfolio and that developing one is essential for fashion designers. Some universities also use it for selection during the degree: at Colorado State, full acceptance into the Apparel Design and Production concentration requires passing a portfolio review and a minimum 2.5 grade point average.

For general admission, EducationUSA states that undergraduate applicants must in general have completed high school and be at least 17 years old, and that US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Applications for a September start are typically due between November and January. Teaching is in English.

To apply for an F student visa, a student must first be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Where to study fashion in the United States

According to the BLS, most fashion designers work in New York and California, and several schools on this page are in those states: the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Pasadena City College, Santa Ana College and American River College in California, and Berkeley College and SUNY Buffalo State University in New York. Buffalo State's Fashion and Textile Technology department reports that its graduates work, among other roles, as apparel designers, fashion and visual merchandisers and technicians in testing laboratories.

Fashion is also taught well away from the two coasts. Examples are The Ohio State University in Columbus, Colorado State University in Fort Collins, the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, Sam Houston State University in Texas and Old Dominion University in Virginia.

Recognition of the qualification

US higher education is not centrally organised: institutions are accredited at national or regional level by independent bodies. EducationUSA points out that an SEVP-certified institution may not hold such accreditation, and that recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to it. Students who plan to continue studying in another country should ask there how a US associate or bachelor's degree is recognised.

Careers

The BLS states that fashion designers typically need a bachelor's degree, in a field such as fashion design or fashion merchandising. It counted 32,700 fashion designer jobs in 2025 and projects little or no change in employment from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,500 openings a year, mostly to replace people who leave the occupation. Designers work for wholesale or manufacturing establishments, apparel companies, retailers, theatre or dance companies and design firms.

Design is only one outcome. The Academy of Art University lists careers such as patternmaker, stylist, textile designer, fashion editor and visual merchandising director.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a fashion degree take in the United States?

An associate degree at a community college takes two years and a bachelor's degree usually four years of full-time study. A master's adds about two years according to EducationUSA.

What is the difference between fashion design and fashion merchandising?

Fashion design focuses on creating garments: illustration, pattern making, construction and textiles. Fashion merchandising focuses on the business of fashion, such as buying, sourcing, branding and retail.

Do I need a portfolio to apply?

It depends on the school and the programme. Design programmes often ask for a portfolio, either at admission or at a later review, as Colorado State University does for its design concentration.