Top 10 Fashion Schools in the US 2026: Fee, Notable Alumni & More
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Are you planning to enter the fashion industry? Then you must read about the list of top 10 Fashion colleges in the US. Studying fashion at a popular university/college helps you to learn about all aspects of the fashion industry, including broad technical skills, and contemporary issues surrounding fashion today, such as ethical sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution.
The United States remains one of the most sought-after destinations for students wanting to build a career in fashion. With a mix of globally ranked design schools, strong industry connections with access to major fashion hubs like New York and Los Angeles, studying in the US offers unmatched exposure to real-world creative and business opportunities.
From cutting-edge design programs to specialisations in merchandising, textile technology, and fashion marketing, US institutions cater to a wide range of career goals within the industry. Many of these colleges also boast alumni networks that span top global brands, giving students a head start in a highly competitive field.
Here you'll find all kinds of fashion design programs here, but some of the schools listed don't offer fashion design. Instead, they've gained a spot because they provide other amazing programs to prepare you for a career in fashion. This list includes undergraduate degrees only.
This article explores the top fashion colleges in the US, along with their programs, fees, and admission requirements, to help you make an informed choice.
- Top 10 Fashion Schools in USA for International Students
- 10 Best Fashion Schools in USA 2026
- Why Choose US Fashion Schools for Studying?
- Top Fashion Schools in USA FAQs
Top 10 Fashion Schools in USA for International Students
To ease off the daunting task of finding the perfect fashion school in the USA, we have compiled the top 10 fashion schools in the USA for international students. These fashion schools also make it to the Top Fashion Schools In The World. Check out the list below:
- Parsons, The New School for Design- New York
- Fashion Institute of Technology- New York
- Pratt Institute- Brooklyn, NY
- Kent State University- Kent, OH
- Academy of Art University- San Francisco, CA
- Savannah College of Art and Design- Savannah, GA
- Rhode Island School of Design- Providence, RI
- California College of Arts (CCA)
- Otis College of Art and Design - Los Angeles, CA
- Columbus College of Art and Design- Columbus, OH
Let us discuss in detail about these fashion colleges in the following sections.
10 Best Fashion Schools in USA 2026
Following is a list of the top 10 fashion schools in the USA that international students can consider to pursue fashion or fashion-related courses at these institutions:
1. Parsons, The New School for Design- New York
Parsons, The New School for Design is one of the prestigious fashion schools in New York City, United States. Students can apply for both level of programs in Design.
- Programs Offered: Fashion Design, Fashion Studies, Fashion Marketing
- Number of students: Undergrads: 4,191; Graduate: 555; Fashion design: 1,087; Fashion marketing: 384
- Tuition: INR 44.5 Lakhs
- Popular Alumni: Designers like Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, and Anna Sui.
2. Fashion Institute of Technology- New York
Founded in 1944, the Fashion Institute of Technology is a well-organized public university known for its education in fashion, business, design, etc. This university ranks around 151-200 by QS WUR Ranking by Subjects.
- Programs: design, business, marketing, illustration, styling, etc.
- Number of Students: 10,386
- Tuition: INR 18 - 19 Lakhs for out-of-state residents
- Popular Alumni: Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, Carolina Herrera, Norma Kamali and others.
3. Pratt Institute- Brooklyn, NY
Founded in the year 1887, Pratt Institute is a privately funded university in New York. This university offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design for students who apply to study fashion design.
- Programs: Fashion design
- Number of Students: Fashion: 169
- Tuition: INR 46 Lakhs
- Popular Alumni: Jeremy Scott, Paul Rand, Mylo Butler
4. Kent State University- Kent, OH
Kent State University was founded in 1910. This university offers a master’s and bachelor’s program in fashion design.
- Programs: Fashion Design; Fashion Merchandising
- Number of Students: 200
- Tuition: INR 17.3 Lakhs
- Popular Alumni: Stephen Baum, Jade Frampton, Scott French and others.
5. Academy of Art University- San Francisco, CA
Founded in 1929, the Academy of Art University is a private university located in San Francisco, USA. The university is ranked 88 in Regional Universities West for fashion design.
- Programs: Fashion Design, Knitwear Design, Textile Design, Fashion Journalism & Fashion Merchandising & Marketing
- Number of Students: 2,700
- Tuition: INR 13 - 28 Lakhs
- Popular Alumni: Anna Zhou
6. Savannah College of Art and Design- Savannah, GA
Savannah College of Art and Design is located in Savannah, USA. The university offers a postgraduate program in Design Management.
- Programs: Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing & Management, Accessories Design
- Number of Students: 940
- Tuition: INR 34.1 Lakhs
- Popular Alumni: Beckham Lin
7. Rhode Island School of Design- Providence, RI
Rhode Island School of Design is a private university in Providence, USA was founded in 1877 and is ranked as the Best College for Art in America by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Programs: Apparel Design, Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Textiles
- Number of Students: 2,000
- Tuition: INR 38.8 - 48.7 Lakhs
- Popular Alumni: Nicole Miller, Zoe Latta, Mike Eckhaus, Mel Ottenberg
8. California College of Arts (CCA)
California College of Arts offers various undergraduate courses in Design and is one of the best choices to study Fashion Design in US.
- Programs: Fashion Design
- Number of Students: Fashion: 120 Design and Merchandising courses: 260
- Tuition: INR 20.3 Lakhs
- Popular Alumni: Josslyn Shi
9. Otis College of Art and Design - Los Angeles, CA
- Programs: Fashion Design
- Number of Students: 1,290
- Tuition: INR 14.7 Lakhs
- Popular Alumni: Rick Owens, Dorothy Jeakins, Cynthia Vincent
10. Columbus College of Art and Design- Columbus, OH
Columbus College of Art and Design was established in 1879 and is located in Columbus, USA. Columbus College is one of the oldest universities in the country and a private college of design and art.
- Programs: Fashion Design
- Number of Students: 122
- Tuition: INR 28.2 Lakhs
- Popular Alumni: Austin Tootle, Mya Lucille Staten, Annie Travis
Why Choose US Fashion Schools for Studying?
The US is home to some of the most prestigious fashion institutions in the world, blending creative freedom with strong industry connections. Studying here gives international students access to global brands, top faculty, and career-ready exposure.
- Industry proximity: Direct access to fashion capitals like New York and Los Angeles.
- Strong industry ties: Internship and placement pipelines with leading fashion houses plus skills required to be a successful Fashion Designer.
- Diverse specialisations: Programs in design, merchandising, marketing, and business.
- Global alumni network: Graduates working across top international brands.
- Research & innovation focus: Emphasis on sustainable fashion and tech-driven design.
- Flexible pathways: Options from associate degrees to MFAs across various budgets.
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Top Fashion Schools in USA FAQs
Commonly asked questions
Average salary for fashion designers in US is USD 78,000 per year. Salaries range from USD 56,000 - USD 210,000. The salary will also depend on specialisation. Salaries may vary. So check before applying.
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York, NY is the top fashion school in the US. Other than these there are other schools are
- University of Cincinnati
- Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Massachusetts College of Art
- Oregon State University
There are so many prime destinations to study Fashion Design Abroad. But, if we talk about the cheapest countries, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Belgium are at top of the list with the best yet most affordable fashion design courses for international students. Even Italy's public universities offering fashion related courses are also cheap for international students looking for these courses abroad.
Illinois Tech Mumbai is approved by UGC. Mumbai campus students are awarded degrees directly by the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Being approved by the UGC, makes the college one of the most preferred colleges in Mumbai.
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Aishwarya Bhatnagar is a specialised content curator with 8+ years of experience in EdTech content, particularly in studying abroad. She is a Study Abroad Expert at Shiksha.com (InfoEdge India Ltd) si
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