Best Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Placements
Best Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Placements
Kerala has around 33 fashion design colleges, including government, private and semi-government ones. NIFT Kannur, the top name, offers 5 UG and 2 PG courses. The 4-year B.Des courses cover Fashion Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design and Fashion Communication, and there is a B.F.Tech in Apparel Production. The 2-year PG courses are M.F.M in Fashion Studies and M.Des in Design Space. Other Kerala colleges offer BSc Fashion Designing and B.Sc Costume and Fashion Designing. The NIFT entrance exam is compulsory for all UG and PG courses at NIFT Kannur. Private colleges follow their own admission process. Some Fashion Designing course in Kerala colleges may be linked to a university or approved by UGC or AICTE.
Kerala has around 33 fashion design colleges, including government, private and semi-government ones. NIFT Kannur, the top name, offers 5 UG and 2 PG courses. The 4-year B.Des courses cover Fashion Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design and Fashion Communication, and there is a B.F.Tech in Apparel Production. The 2-year PG courses are M.F.M in Fashion Studies and M.Des in Design Space. Other Kerala colleges offer BSc Fashion Designing and B.Sc Costume and Fashion Designing. The NIFT entrance exam is compulsory for all UG and PG courses at NIFT Kannur. Private colleges follow their own admission process. Some Fashion Designing course in Kerala colleges may be linked to a university or approved by UGC or AICTE.
- Best Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala: Known Facts 2026
- Eligibility Criteria for the Kerala Fashion Designing Colleges 2026
- Entrance Exams Accepted in the Top Kerala Fashion Design Colleges 2026
- Best Private Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala
- Government Fashion Designing Colleges in Kerala
- ROI of the Top Colleges for Fashion Designing in Kerala
- Low-cost Fashion Designing Colleges in Kerala
- Best Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala: Comparison
Best Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala: Known Facts 2026
NIFT Kannur arranges internship programmes so students can learn how the industry works. Listed companies include Raymond, Nike, Arvind, Lifestyle, and Fabindia. Others include H&M, Manyavar, Nykaa and Reliance Brands. Fashion Design courses in Kerala are offered at UG, PG, diploma, and certificate level. For more info, see the table below for key insights on the top Design colleges in Kerala offering Fashion Designing course.
| Parameters |
Statistics |
|---|---|
| Total no. of Fashion Design colleges in Kerala | 33 colleges |
| Top Fashion Design Institutes in Kerala | NIFT Kannur, University of Calicut, Vimala College, JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Kochi, St Teresa's College, etc. |
| Fee range of top colleges | ~ INR 3,000 - INR 12+ lakh |
| Top Fashion Design specialisations offered | Apparel Design, Textile Design, Jewellery Design, Knitwear Design, Visual Merchandising, etc. |
| Admission process | NIFT Exam, CUET, etc. |
Eligibility Criteria for the Kerala Fashion Designing Colleges 2026
Listed below are the eligibility criteria to get admission to the top colleges for Fashion Designing in Kerala.
- Pass Class 12 from a recognised board. Most design colleges accept students from any stream, but check each college.
- For NIFT Kannur, you need a valid NIFT entrance exam score. Many private colleges use their own test or merit.
- NIFT sets an age limit for UG courses, so read the latest brochure before you apply.
- For PG courses, you need a bachelor's degree and the NIFT entrance score. NIFT Kannur also offers a 3-year B.Des through lateral entry.
Entrance Exams Accepted in the Top Kerala Fashion Design Colleges 2026
The entrance exam you need depends on the college. At NIFT Kannur, the NIFT entrance exam is compulsory for all UG and PG courses. Private colleges follow their own admission process, so some may use their own test or merit. Check the table below for the exam each college accepts.
| Exams | Exam Date Schedule | Exam College Predictor |
|---|---|---|
| NIFT Exam | NIFT Exam Date | NIFT College Predictor |
| CUET Exam | CUET Exam Date | CUET College Predictor |
Best Private Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala
| Top Private Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Holy Cross Institute of Management and Technology Fashion Design Courses | INR 1.17 lakh |
| Vimala College Fashion Design Courses | INR 69,000 |
| St Teresa's College Fashion Design Courses | INR 42,000 |
| Nirmala College of Arts and Science Fashion Design Courses | INR 3,150 |
| Oriental School of Hotel Management Fashion Design Courses | INR 3,150 |
NOTE: Above given data are from official sources and can change.
Government Fashion Designing Colleges in Kerala
Government colleges give quality education, but seats are few. NIFT Kannur is one of the most reputed. The Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Kannur, also appears among the options. The table below lists the best government fashion design colleges in Kerala.
| Govt Fashion Designing Colleges in Kerala | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| NIFT Kannur Fashion Design Courses | INR 6.16 lakh - INR 12.96 lakh |
| University of Calicut Fashion Design Courses | - |
| KTU - APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Fashion Design Courses | - |
| Institute of Fashion Technology Fashion Design Courses | - |
NOTE: Fees given above have been sourced from the official college site and subject to change.
ROI of the Top Colleges for Fashion Designing in Kerala
ROI means how much you earn compared to how much you spend. One site lists the total B.Des fee at NIFT Kannur at about INR 12.97 lakh. The median package in recent placements was around INR 6 LPA. The placement rate was between 60% and 70%. These figures vary by source, so compare fee and average salary before you decide. The table below shows the comparison.
| Top Colleges | Tuition Fee | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| NIFT Kannur Placements | INR 6.16 lakh - INR 12.96 lakh | INR 4.11 LPA - INR 6.1 LPA |
| Carmel College, Mala Placements | INR 36,000 | INR 4 LPA |
| St Teresa's College Placements | INR 42,000 | INR 3 LPA - INR 3.36 LPA |
| St. Aloysius College Placements | INR 36,000 | INR 3.2 LPA |
| Vimala College Placements | INR 69,000 | INR 3 LPA |
NOTE: Fees and median salaries given above have been sourced from the official college's website.
Low-cost Fashion Designing Colleges in Kerala
You can study fashion design in Kerala without a very heavy fee. Even a government institute like NIFT Kannur is not cheap. Tuition alone is listed at INR 12.96 lakh. Shorter courses, such as diplomas and B.Sc programmes, may cost less, but fees differ by college. Look for scholarships and education loans. Check the table below for fees of the top fashion designing colleges in Kerala.
| Affordable Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Oriental School of Hotel Management Fees | INR 3,100 |
| Nirmala College of Arts and Science Fees | INR 36,000 |
| St. Aloysius College Fees | INR 36,000 |
| Carmel College, Mala Fees | INR 36,000 |
| Vimala College Fees | INR 69,000 |
NOTE: Affordable fees given above are from official sources.
Best Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala: Comparison
To know the comparison of the best Fashion Designing colleges in Kerala, click on the links below.
Best Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Placements
Commonly asked questions On Best Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Placements
Commonly asked questions On Best Fashion Design Colleges in Kerala: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Placements
| Courses | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| B.A. | Candidate must have completed 10+2 from any recognised Board/Council. |
| B.Com | Candidate must have passed 10+2 from any recognised Board/Council. |
| B.Sc. | Candidate must have passed 10+2 examination with Science stream from a recognised board. |
| B.Voc | Candidate must have passed 10+2 from any recognised Board/Council. |
Fashion Designer, Textile Designer, Accessory Designer, Interior Designer, Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Game Designer, and Furniture Designer are some of the job profiles available after studying design courses. Designer pay may vary depending on a number of factors, including cities or demand. Your degree's worth may differ between cities. There are more offices and enterprises in big cities, which increases your chances of finding work.
Graduates in design have a wide range of employment possibilities.
| Job Profiles | Average Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
Fashion Designer | INR 3.5 LPA |
Textile Designer | INR 4.2 LPA |
Graphic Designer | INR 3.0 LPA |
Interior Designer | INR 3.1 LPA |
UI/UX Designer | INR 5.5 LPA |