Discover the Cost of Fashion School: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you passionate about fashion and considering pursuing a career in the industry? Fashion School may be the perfect path for you.
We will explore the different types of fashion schools, admission requirements, costs, factors that affect the cost, and the benefits of attending. Whether you are interested in traditional, online, or vocational fashion schools, understanding the education background, portfolio requirements, entrance exams, and financial aid options can help you make an informed decision.
Join us as we delve into the world of Fashion School and discover the exciting opportunities it can offer.
Key Takeaways:
What Is Fashion School?
Fashion schools are educational institutions at the university, college, or private school level that offer degree courses for students seeking careers in fashion including associates, bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. degrees. Some schools will even offer non-degree programs or short-term certificate programs. Some associates degree programs can be as short as two years, making them the fastest way to acquire formal education in the fashion field. Schools offering these programs may have the capacity to fast track students, enabling them to enter the workforce as fashion designers, fashion merchandisers, or to pursue continuing education as fashion buyers, depending on the school’s individual offerings and degree pathways.
What Are The Different Types Of Fashion Schools?
The different categories of fashion schools are based on their design and pedagogical focus (general, multi-disciplinary, luxury, MBA-oriented, variety of topics within fashion design and production, specializing in only one or two concepts or types of designs, other related areas). International fashion schools with some for-credit offerings are also in their own category.
- Design focused – These might have associated cost centers (textile mills, lab for material experiments, etc.) but generally are meant for developing conceptual design and practical arts skills.
- MBA focused – These schools can function like a business school, especially for working professionals. They are meant for careers in fashion management.
- Topic specific – Specializing in only one or a few areas of study such as accessory design.
- Multi-disciplinary focused – Usually associated with a larger university. These schools can offer a general liberal fashion arts degree, or branches in production, management, design, etc.
- Country specific – Schools in France (Paris being more prestigious), Italy, China, Thailand, Korea, US, UK all have nationalistic advantages and styles which make them highly sought after.
Traditional Fashion Schools
Traditional fashion schools, whether public or private, generally cost between $2000 and $30,000 annually for tuition. The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York and other public schools cost around $5000 per year for in-state students, and $16,000 and up for out-of-state and international students. Private schools like the Parsons School of Design at the New School in New York generally run between $30,000 and $50,000 per year. There is often a fee to audit a course, priced between $500 and $5,000. These schools also require payment for textbooks, materials, and student association fees.
Online Fashion Schools
Online-only fashion schools offer various digital courses including SAE Institute’s online design course for $2,275 and London College of Contemporary Arts’ online MBA in Luxury Business Management for $16,975. They offer associates, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Online programs can save on costs ranging 25-50% versus their in-person counterparts but a number of labs and hands-on courses do not transfer well online so students should ensure it fits their expectations.
Vocational Fashion Schools
Vocational or technical fashion schools are the same as community colleges. The difference between a straight community college and a vocational one in the US is an emphasis on job-specific training programs and hands-on practical education.
Technical and community college fashion programs most closely resemble university writing skills cources (the fashion software students), religious scholls, trade schools in terms of program structure. They most closely resemble universities or four-year colleges when it comes to flexibility, as these regional public institutions offer a wide variety of participating institutions across non-degree certificate programs, 1-year programs (most common), 2-year associates programs, and 4-year bachelor’s degrees. They most closely resemble training organizations as they offer associates programs with a deal of credit awarded for select occupational classes. This association of colleges, which includes over 1,000 community colleges, offers associate degrees, technical certifications, and job training. Tuition at public two-year colleges in 2019 was $3,730 on average and the total cost was $17,580. A tuition survey of nearly 1,800 community colleges by College Board reported an average tuition of nearly $3,730. However, public two-year colleges had the highest number of low- and no-tuition options and almost half of the students paid nothing for tuition. Admission to community colleges in the US requires only a high school diploma or equivalent.
What Are The Admission Requirements For Fashion Schools?
Admission requirements for fashion at school include an application, a high school diploma or its equivalent, secondary school transcripts (including grades from required courses), SAT/ACT scores, personal essays, recommendation letters, and for foreign students in some fashion schools, a TOEFL/IELTS score.
Each fashion school will have their own specific admission requirements which can always be found on their websites. For example, the California College of the Arts (CCA) in San Francisco has unique admission requirements specific to studying fashion there, a few of which are mentioned below:
- SlideRoom portfolio with a minimum of only 10 images showcasing your interests and experience in art and design
- Two short-answer questions
- Topical project request in lieu of a portfolio
- Personal concept vision essay
- Secondary school preparation requirements including transcripts, academic qualifications, and English proficiency standards
The amount of detail and specific requirements will vary from school to school. Contact their admissions offices for details.
Education Background
Fashion school is a higher education program within a specialized A&D college focused on developing the necessary skills to enter the international fashion industry. Most fashion degrees offer a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge such as textiles, sewing, drawing, design, color theory, style analysis, pattern making, and cutting. Programs in fashion degrees usually consist of modular workshop-based modules to teach students how to use specialized software used in the industry, such as Adobe Illustrator and other similar programs.
Portfolio or Design Samples
A portfolio or design samples are collections of an individual’s best handiwork samples. This is what large fashion companies go through to decide whether to hire you. They expect a portfolio which is fashion design, merchandising, interior, design or concept work.
According to designer Don O’Neil, the head of the Este & Chlo most successful ready-to-wear line, “In the fashion realm, there are two types of portfolios. One is an inspirational victim board which is the use of reference materials to help define your mood and color story. The other is a portfolio of designs.’ The latter should show not just the best designs a fashion school student has done – but the process. O’Neil says that beginning to end should show where the idea came from, variations, fabric swatches, and then the finished designs.
Entrance Exams
Entrance exams are an important factor in determining the total cost of a fashion school. Entrance exams are mandatory for some programs and range in cost. This depends on the exam and the country in question. In France, for example, entrance exams to fashion schools from both the private and public sectors can cost from €30 to €160 ($35 to $188) or more.
The most commonly taken entrance exams for fashion colleges and universities include:
- ISFAAD Diplôme d’État Mode et Métiers d’Art (MODEMA): This is an entrance exam for the government-run Institut Supérieur des Arts et du Design in Tunis.
- LCF – London College of Fashion Entrance Exam
- Polimoda Entrance Exam: An entrance exam for Florence-based Polimoda as one of the top fashion schools in Italy.
- STURENKA School of Fashion Design in Prague Entrance Exam
- ZARA SALAM Model Making, Fashion, Textile and Art School Entrance Exam in Sudan: Some schools choose to see students’ creative and emotional intelligence through an interview process.
- Fashion design drawing exam: The aim is to evaluate basic knowledge and interest in fashion design. The exam may have both written and practical parts.
There are of course numerous fashion schools that do not require entrance exams where students are admitted based on other factors. You should check the individual school’s regulations and procedures to determine if there is a cost associated with entrance exams.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are another key component of the fashion school application process. Make sure to clearly review the recommendations guidelines from the institution to which you are applying and ensure those writing the endorsements adhere to them. Some recommendations to consider to help ensure your letters of recommendation best showcase your qualifications include the following:
- Ask before the due date. Get the process started as early as possible if you want to maximize the range of people who you can ask to write a letter of recommendation.
- Pick the most relevant people. Letters should come from people who you have worked closest to and who can best support the case you want to make to the admissions committee.
- Provide your recommenders with some guidance. Write a list of bullet points with suggestions of what to include in the letter.
- Follow up after they agree. It is not unusual for people to get sidetracked or forget about the letter writing task.
- Don’t overlook teachers. If it has been a few years since you have been in school, contact former professors. This is especially helpful if you are relocating for school or are expecting a career shift.
How Much Does Fashion School Cost?
Fashion school costs between 300 US dollars per credit and 53,452 US dollars per semester. There are various charges to get in including application fees, transcript evaluations, language assessment exams, matriculations, enrollment deposits, etc. The full cost of attendance for Vol State (Tennessee Technical Community College) is $3802 USD. This makes it the cheapest fashion school in the USA.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are the primary cost of fashion school and tend to be very expensive especially at well-known private schools and expensive countries to study in.
One of the most famous public fashion design schools is the London College of Fashion, which charges up to GBP 33,000 per year tuition for international undergraduate students. The Politecnico di Milano Masters in Fashion Design costs EUR 1,684 per year for domestic students and EUR 4,000 per year for international students.
One of the cheapest options is the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, which costs just USD 128 per year for tuition and fees for citizens. The most expensive option is the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design, and Art Masters in Luxury and Fashion Management, costing USD 25,000 per year for international students and USD 12,500 per year for domestic students.
Most repercussions from the Covid-19 pandemic have not yet been factored into data, but one 2018 Business of Fashion article discussed a study that found that fashion school tuition fees had been increasing rapidly, with cumulative average growth of as much as 5% per year since 2004.
Most reputable schools have scholarships, though these are rarely enough to fully pay tuition. Scholarship coverage in the US ranges from a mean of 10% of tuition at community colleges to an average of 76% of the cost at for-profit schools according to a 2011 article from the journal Research in Higher Education.
Additional Expenses
Books: Between $500 and $600 per semester is the average range for textbooks for fashion degrees at universities.
Supplies: Most universities report that supply costs for various projects beyond textbooks amount to between $1500 and $2000 per semester.
Fees (200-2000 US dollars per year): Along with the fee paid for the course itself universities will often have a variety of other fees that are not included. These can range greatly from 200 USD per year to 2000 USD.
What Are The Factors That Affect The Cost Of Fashion School?
The following factors affect the cost of fashion school:
- Type of institution: Public universities are much cheaper than private institutions in the USA.
- Residency status: Attending schools in your home state is usually much less expensive than bucking residency requirements and going out of state or international.
- Degree level: Associate degrees are usually cheaper than bachelor’s degrees, but there are exceptions like California State University.
Location of the School
Location is a key factor in determining the amount of tuition charged by fashion schools. The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, USA charges $20,155 a year for New York State residents and $41,915 a year for those who live outside the state. IN Paris, France, Mod’Art charges 20,000 euros per year You can then add to that distance costs and enrollment restrictions in other countries making schools either expensive or affordable to students from your country.
Reputation and Ranking
The reputation and ranking of fashion schools are mainly based on accreditation, faculty expertise, and research.
Accreditation refers to the peer-reviewed qualifications of a school, which both guarantees high-quality education and is recognized by leading fashion companies. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) suggests that a school with accreditations increases the transference of credits to other institutions.
Research contributions from fashion schools often shape the direction of the industry. Juliet Müller, Deputy Director of the Fashion School (SoF) at Kent State University notes that the research culture of a program greatly polishes student faculty and school reputation. Research rank is determined by facilities capable of high-quality research, involvement with industry professionals, and the number of research publications produced.
According to the QS World University Rankings for Art & Design, the Parsons School of Design at The New School in New York is the world leader in the area of fashion and only costs $55,000 a year. Central Saint Martins in London has the most reputable undergraduate course with costs of around $20,000 annually and comes in at #4 on the QS ranking for Art & Design.
Program Length and Type
The concept of how much fashion school costs is strongly tied to its length and to the type of fashion program it is. Fashion bachelor’s programs are typically 4 years in length, while master’s degrees programs in fashion are typically 2 years in length. Short-term programs and certificate programs can be completed in as short as 1 semester or 9 credit hours. Certificate programs and short-term courses are generally less expensive than formal degree programs.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Fashion students can seek financial aid and scholarships to help reduce the total cost of their tuition. This is particularly important for attending luxury brands schools such as the IFM Paris, Central Saint Martins, or the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, which have very high tuition costs.
Students seeking financial assistance should research sources of funding in their local country, with many relying on government scholarships from the home country to finance studies abroad. There are also a number of major global financial aid organizations, foundations, scholarships, and fellowship programs that provide assistance for full degrees, short-term visas, conference participation, workshops, training courses, etc.
What Are The Benefits Of Attending Fashion School?
The benefits of attending fashion school include learning the fundamentals of design and business management, networking with peers and industry insiders, and gaining prestige from the reputation of the school itself. This can potentially lead to higher-earning job offers as well as new business opportunities.
Fashion institutes and universities around the world offer flexible programs that allow anyone — from undergrads changing career paths to those with extensive practical experience — the opportunity to evolve and expand skillsets. The cost of attending a college of fashion ranges from $2000 to $40,000 per year.
Professional Training and Education
Fashion schools offer professional training and education to prepare students for careers in the fashion industry. The most common degrees by level that are offered by professional fashion schools include Associate degree, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and Doctorate degree. The most common degrees by major that are offered by professional fashion schools include Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, FOOTWEAR & ACCESSORIES DESIGN, and TEXTILE DESIGN.
Students take a variety of courses in areas that cover the fundamentals and explore specialized areas. These include topics in studio design, digital technologies, marketing, social media, advertising, new media, retailing, retail store design, digital commerce, global consumer behavior, luxury fashion, consumer economy, and globalization, among others. As students progress towards higher levels of education, programs are likely to require a larger number of credit hours and an increased level of rigor. Initial degrees such as a Fashion Certification or Bachelor of Arts in Fashion will be less expensive than advanced degrees such as Master of Arts/Science in Fashion Studies or a Doctorate of Philosophy in Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design.
Networking Opportunities
While the cost of fashion school is high, it provides an opportunity for valuable fashion industry networking. Nearly all fashion institutes, valuable for their alumni network of potential collaborators and employees, hold annual career fairs and public fashion shows which connect current students with these invaluable career resources for life.
Parties, networking events, and industry partnerships during which the work of younger design talents is often showcased provide additional opportunities for fostering industry connections.
Access to Industry Resources and Equipment
Fashion design school students have access to industry resources and equipment to varying degrees. These resources include fabrics to few sewing machines, to classrooms that simulate production facilities for pattern making, grading, marker making, cutting, construction, and finishing students’ designs.
A course’s availability of industry resources and equipment is one of the factors used to rate the cost of fashion schools. The 2019 Fashion Schools’ Relevance Report by CFDA (the flagship organization for Fashion Design in the US) shows that Royal College of Art in London, Polimoda in Milan, and Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp have the largest percentage of individual students from brands showing collections.
The report also shows that Beijing Institute of Fashion Tech in Shanghai, Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, and Fashion Institute of Technology in New York have the fewest students, according to the 21 fashion schools that submitted graduation statistics between 2015 and 2017. The cause of this under-representation of FIT and Bunka in particular is unclear, but is worth looking into if success in the fashion industry is a key feature of a school that a student has identified.
Career Opportunities and Advancement
The fashion industry encompasses a broad range of industry segments ranging from apparel and accessories to footwear and textiles, as well as eCommerce, modeling, and media. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections for Educational Attainment in the United States: 2019, graduates with a fashion degree will have greater unemployment rates compared to those with similar associate degrees.
According to Zip Recruiter, a fashion designer makes an average of $62,506, a Fashion PR Specialist makes an average of $28,889, and a retail buyer makes an average of $47,184. Salaries can typically range anywhere from $21,000 to $115,000 per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does fashion school typically cost?
The cost of fashion school can vary greatly, but on average, tuition for a four-year program can range from $20,000 to $60,000 per year.
Are there any additional fees or expenses to consider?
Yes, in addition to tuition, students may need to budget for textbooks, supplies, software, and other materials required for fashion courses.
Are there any scholarships or financial aid options available for fashion school?
Yes, many fashion schools offer scholarships and financial aid to students based on academic merit or financial need. It’s best to research and apply for these opportunities early on.
What factors can affect the cost of fashion school?
The cost of fashion school can be influenced by factors such as the location of the school, the prestige of the program, and whether it is a private or public institution.
Is it possible to attend fashion school part-time or online?
Yes, there are some fashion schools that offer part-time and online programs. However, the cost may still be similar to full-time, on-campus programs.
Are there any ways to save money on fashion school tuition?
Some fashion schools offer dual enrollment programs where students can complete both high school and college coursework, potentially saving money on tuition. Additionally, students can look into community college courses and transfer credits to a fashion school to save on costs.
