Best Colleges for Apparel and Textiles

The fashion and textile industry offers diverse career paths, from design and merchandising to manufacturing and sustainability consulting. With 52 schools nationwide offering Apparel and Textiles programs, students have numerous options to launch their careers in this competitive field.

Graduates typically earn around $35,695 annually in entry-level positions, with potential for growth in specialized areas like technical textiles or luxury brand management. When evaluating programs, prioritize hands-on studio experience, industry partnerships, and internship opportunities. Look for curricula that blend creative design with business fundamentals, including merchandising, supply chain management, and sustainable practices. Strong alumni networks and access to fashion centers like New York or Los Angeles can provide valuable networking opportunities and job placement assistance.

Schools Ranked

$40,832

Avg. Program Earnings

71.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	University of Delaware Newark, Delaware	$49,555	78.8%	public
2	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$45,249	81.2%	public
3	Fashion Institute of Technology New York, New York	$43,638	83.3%	public
4	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$43,575	87.6%	public
5	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$43,426	89.3%	public
6	Northern Illinois University Dekalb, Illinois	$42,682	49.6%	public
7	University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas	$42,309	70.0%	public
8	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$42,012	87.7%	public
9	Rhode Island School of Design Providence, Rhode Island	$41,937	88.5%	private-nonprofit
10	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$41,565	85.1%	public
11	University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa	$41,565	68.9%	public
12	University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, Missouri	$41,007	76.2%	public
13	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$40,768	50.1%	public
14	Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida	$40,455	83.0%	public
15	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$39,909	63.7%	public
16	Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas	$39,729	70.5%	public
17	Iowa State University Ames, Iowa	$39,585	75.5%	public
18	Centenary University Hackettstown, New Jersey	$39,009	56.6%	private-nonprofit
19	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, Ohio	$38,829	66.4%	public
20	University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island	$38,829	71.0%	public
21	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, Oklahoma	$37,208	65.9%	public
22	East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina	$37,208	62.1%	public
23	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina	$37,054	57.9%	public
24	Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon	$36,848	70.6%	public
25	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, Oregon	$36,848	51.2%	public