Study Fashion Design in USA in 2024: Know About Best Fashion Design Colleges in US

Between the years 2020 to 2030, there will be an 8% increase in demand for fashion designers. Thus, fashion designing courses are much in demand among international students. Before we proceed to the list of best fashion designing colleges in USA, let us know the advantages of studying in US:

• Top Ranked Fashion Colleges - US has some of the best fashion designing colleges/universities in the world. These well-recognised universities are at the forefront of fashion technology and creative learning. Nearly 5 colleges have ranked amongst the top 10 fashion design schools in the world according to QS Rankings 2023.
• Variety of Degree Programs - The universities in US offer a variety of degree programs in the field of fashion design. For example, Fashion Merchandising, Textile Design, Fashion Journalism, Fashion Marketing & Management are some of the specialisations you will find.
• Growing Fashion Industry - The fashion industry in America is fast-paced and growing at an exponential rate. Fashion designers, fashion magazines and textile firms have their offices in New York, the fashion capital of the world. It is presumed that the US fashion industry will cross the $200 million mark by the year 2024.

Whether you want to study diploma courses in fashion designing in USA or a master's in fashion design in USA, there are plenty of colleges and universities to choose from. Here are some of the top-ranked fashion schools in the US for international students:

1. Parsons School of Design
2. Rhode Island School of Design
3. Pratt Institute
4. School of the Art Institute of Chicago
5. California Institute of the Arts

1.  Parsons School of Design The New School

Located in New York City, Parsons is one of the best fashion design colleges in USA. The average GPA required to get admission is 3.42 which makes it a moderately competitive school for fashion design.

2.  Rhode Island School of Design

Situated in Rhode Island, this is one of the oldest fashion design colleges in USA. The acceptance rate of the Rhode Island School of Design is nearly 27% and the graduation rate is 89% approximately.

3.  Pratt Institute

The main campus of Pratt Institute is in Brooklyn, New York and has two other campuses in Manhattan and Utica. With a 66% acceptance rate, the Pratt Institute is one of the best fashion design schools in US.

4.  School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Among the best fashion schools in the US, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) deserves special mention. It is one of the finest educational institutes in the country with a 78% acceptance rate.

5.  California Institute of the Arts

The acceptance rate of this college is about 27% making it a fairly difficult college to get admission into. The main campus is in Santa Clarita, California.

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The top-ranking US universities offering fashion design courses specialise in both theoretical and practical learning. The curriculum for fashion design courses in USA majorly covers the following:

• Fashion History
• Fashion Drawing
• Colour Theory
• Design Communication
• Textiles & Materials
• Industry Communication
• Portfolio Building & Internship

As a study abroad student, you will be required to meet all the eligibility criteria to study in the top fashion design universities in USA. To make it more convenient, we have shortlisted some of the basic requirements for fashion design courses in USA for international students:

• Official transcripts/academics Certificates
• English language proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS)
• CV/Resume
• Portfolio
• Statement of Purpose
• 2-3 letters of recommendation
• Work samples if any

In order to study fashion design in USA, you must be well-versed with the application process. The application process is more or less similar for all the US universities offering fashion design courses. Follow this step-by-step guide to understand the application process better:

• Determine the colleges/universities offering fashion designing courses in the US. View their course curriculum, tuition fees, and application requirements.
• Visit the official websites of your chosen fashion colleges in the US. Note down the eligibility requirements, application deadlines and necessary entrance exams.
• Submit all the required documents along with your application before the deadline.
• Attend any screening interview if organised by the college/university.
• Once your application is accepted by the college, start making arranging for funds (education loans or scholarships)
• Apply for the US student visa

If you want to study fashion design courses in USA, then you must learn about the various costs you will incur while you stay in the country for your course duration.

Tuition Fees

The annual average tuition fee for fashion design courses in USA for international students is approximately $27,760 for public universities and $37,200 for private universities.

Living Cost

Other than the tuition fees, you may need to spend roughly $7,000 - $20,000 per year on food and accommodation in US.

Additional Expenses

Here are some of the additional expenses that you need to look after while studying fashion designing courses in USA universities:

Suggested: Estimated cost of living in US for Indian students

The scope of fashion designing in USA is vast. After you earn a fashion degree from any of the reputed universities in America, you will have a chance to pick a career accordingly.

If you are passionate about studying fashion design, then USA is the right study-abroad destination for you. Since it is a creative field, the career opportunities in fashion design are numerous and ever-growing. Along with studying fashion design in USA, you will meet like-minded people in the universities that will help your creative ideas grow exponentially. 

Confused about how to take admission in these fashion schools? Get connected with Yocket professionals to get end-to-end admission guidance and visa support.