People have always found fashion fascinating, and many follow the newest styles. The field is shaped by designers, makers, merchandisers, stylists, and other specialists who create new ideas and trends.
Choosing the right school for a future career can be complex because there are many institutions to consider. The U.S. is home to many respected fashion and design schools, making it a strong option for students who want to pursue a career in the fashion industry.
To help with your research, we selected some of the best fashion schools in the U.S. that are worth considering.
Top Fashion Schools in the U.S.
1. The New School Parsons
Parsons School of Design at The New School is known for interdisciplinary art and design education. In addition to its home in New York City, Parsons has a branch campus in Paris. Parsons reports about 5,100 degree-seeking students, with 35% international students.
Here, the next generation of creative leaders participates in real-world learning and develops as critical thinkers and makers who address current issues through design.
Through its studio-based environment and access to New York City’s creative industries, Parsons offers students opportunities to build ambition, inventiveness, and collaboration as they begin their design careers.
2. Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, founded in 1944, is a public SUNY college in New York City focused on art, design, business, communications, and technology for the fashion and creative industries.
FIT offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs. Fashion-related undergraduate options include fabric styling, fashion design, footwear and accessories design, jewelry design, and more. It also offers graduate programs such as fashion design, exhibition and experience design, and fashion and textile studies: history, theory, and museum practice.
FIT’s industry connections, exhibitions, and alumni community give students opportunities to learn from professionals and graduates working across fashion and related fields.
3. Kent State University
Since its founding as a teacher-training school in 1910, Kent State University has grown into a major public university in Ohio. The university has a main campus in Kent and seven regional campuses across Northeast Ohio, and more than 1,500 international students from around the world choose Kent State each year.
At the School of Fashion, Kent State offers undergraduate study in Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising, including Fashion Design B.A. and B.F.A. pathways and a Fashion Merchandising B.S. It also offers a Master of Fashion Industry Studies for graduate students.
Kent State gives students access to academic support, fashion-industry learning opportunities, and study experiences designed to help them prepare for careers in fashion.
4. Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private institute in New York founded in 1887. Today, it is known for programs across art, design, architecture, and related creative fields, including fashion design.
Pratt offers a Fashion Design BFA and an MFA in Fashion Collection + Communication through its School of Design. The BFA is a 126-credit, four-year program, while the MFA is a 60-credit, two-year graduate program.
For art and design, Pratt is ranked #5 in the world and #3 in the U.S. in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Students can find support at Pratt throughout their creative journey as they build professional skills and pursue new opportunities.
5. Otis College of Art and Design
Otis College of Art and Design is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) institution in Los Angeles. Established in 1918 as Los Angeles’s first professional school of the arts, Otis educates a diverse community of more than 1,200 students in accredited degree programs, professional certificates, youth programs, and more.
Its BFA in Fashion Design helps students learn to create and construct garments with guidance from industry professionals, mentors, and faculty. Students also work collaboratively and develop the technical, creative, and professional skills needed for the fashion industry.
Otis lists undergraduate tuition at $27,872 per semester, and the college reports that more than 90% of students receive financial aid. Otis also states that $27 million in scholarships and grants were awarded to students in 2025–26, with no repayment required. Students should review the school’s current cost-of-attendance and financial aid pages before applying.
FAQs: Fashion Studies in the U.S.
Why is the U.S. Considered One of the Best Countries to Study Fashion?
American fashion includes influences from streetwear, denim culture, sportswear, luxury design, entertainment, and regional styles. Because the U.S. has major fashion communities in cities such as New York and Los Angeles, students can study in a broad creative environment and explore many career pathways in design, merchandising, styling, marketing, production, and related fields.
How Much Does It Cost to Study Fashion in the U.S.?
Costs vary widely because each school sets its own tuition and fees. For example, Pratt Institute’s 2026–2027 undergraduate tuition is $64,703 annually for students taking 12–18 credits. At the Fashion Institute of Technology, 2026–2027 full-time out-of-state tuition is $8,685 per semester at the associate level and $10,846 per semester at the baccalaureate level; international F-1 students are not eligible for the New York resident tuition rate.
We hope this article about the best fashion schools in the United States helps you shortlist the best options for you. Check out our Guide to Studying in the US Page and Available Programs for International Students!
