Have you always dreamed of working in the fashion industry? Now is the time to get your foot in the door! There are currently 1.8 million employees in the fashion industry. This is promising for future growth.
But don’t try and get a job in fashion without a college degree.
Fashion isn’t all style trends and runway shows — the fashion industry is a highly-specific industry and needs the very best in the business. Fortunately, there are many fashion university options.
Here are the 7 best fashion schools in the world — from New York City to London to Milan!
The Best Fashion Schools in the World
From Italy to the United States, there are many fashion capitals in the world.
That’s why there are many opportunities to study in your home and to study abroad. If you want to pursue a career in fashion, choose one of these schools.
1. The Fashion Institute of Technology — New York City, NY, United States
New York City is one of the meccas of fashion.
If you’re an American student who wants to pursue a career in fashion, traveling to New York is necessary. If you plan to take this route, ensure you go to a prestigious fashion school such as the Fashion Institute of Technology.
This school offers a variety of programs and degrees in the fashion industry. This includes business, fashion design, illustrations, marketing, and styling.
What makes this school stand out is its impressive alumni. This includes Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, and Michael Kors.
This school was established in 1944 and currently has over 8,000 students in attendance.
2. Parsons, the New School for Design — New York City, NY, United States
Parsons is another school with an impressive alumni list. Major fashion figures who received a degree from this school include Donna Karan, Tom Ford, Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, and Jason Wu.
Parsons offers a myriad of courses and degrees such as general fashion studies, fashion design, and fashion marketing.
What makes Parsons stand out from the schools on this list is they maintain close relationships with alumni and helps link students to careers.
Keep in mind, this school isn’t cheap. Tuition costs Almost $50,000 per year which doesn’t include student fees, the cost of student services, and student senate (equaling to about $150).
3. London College of Fashion — London, England
Now we cross the pond to another fashion capital: London. London College of Fashion is a section within the University of the Arts London.
Compared to other universities in London, the College of Fashion offers some of the most versatile college courses.
Fashion students can expect to study marketing, design, fashion buying, fashion journalism, and fashion merchandising.
The College of Fashion also offers specialties in cosmetic science, beauty, fashion criticism, fashion curation, footwear, and accessories.
Not a UK citizen? Don’t worry, they offer an impressive study abroad program for international students.
London College of Fashion currently has 5,000 students. There are also impressive alumni, such as Richard Sanderson and Jimmy Choo.
4. Central Saint Martins — London, England
This is another school at the University of the Arts London. Central Saint Martins is a school that offers programs in fashion but also in jewelry design and textiles.
This school stands out because they offer world-class fashion influencers as their professors, such as Louise Wilson.
For students who can’t afford a prestigious university, there’s good news for you.
Central Saint Martins is partially government-funded, making tuition affordable.
For UK and EU citizens, expect to pay £9,250 (€10,600). Even US students don’t have to pay a terrible price — $27,500 is expected yearly tuition, which is more affordable than many fashion schools in the US.
5. Istituto Marangoni — Milan, Italy
We’re now taking this list to Milan. Walking the streets of Milan, you’ll feel intimidated by the fashion you see. That’s because fashion is everywhere in Milan!
That’s why European fashion students should study in Milan, especially at the Istituto Marangoni.
This university is separated into three campuses. This is the main campus and the smaller campuses are located in Paris and London.
The Milan campus offers a huge selection for all students in the fashion industry — fashion business, fashion design, brand management, fashion buying, and fashion promotion.
Don’t think you have to be an EU citizen to attend this school. Yearly tuition for US citizens varies between $18,000 and $21,000.
6. Royal College of Art — London, England
If you’re a fashion student who wants to attend graduate school, look no further than the Royal College of Art.
Even with its world-renowned status and multiple campuses, this school only accepts a small number of applicants. Don’t be afraid to invest in essay writing services to get a better chance of acceptance.
You’ll receive a more personal learning experience with more one-on-one time with professors. With the school’s strict acceptance standards, stating you’re a Royal College of Art graduate will impress potential employers.
You’ll also gain real-world experience. Royal College of Art offers placement to work for major designers such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Burberry, and Givenchy.
The tuition fees are slightly higher. Expect to pay £34,000 for tuition, $43,600 for US students.
7. Politecnico di Milano — Milan, Italy
Politecnico di Milano is the oldest and largest technical university in Italy. They’re renowned as one of the most prestigious technical universities in all of Europe.
It was established in 1863 and currently houses 42,000 students.
This is a perfect school for both Italian undergraduate and graduate students — their two biggest fashion majors include fashion design for undergraduates and Design for the Fashion System for graduates.
This is also the cheapest fashion academy on this list. Italian and other students from Europe can expect to pay between €895 to €3,898 while international students, such as US students, only pay $1,000 to $4,000 in yearly tuition.
Need More Fashion Advice?
If you dream of a career in fashion, your career relies on more than just the best fashion schools. You need to know all about trends, designers, and what makes an outfit work. Here’s some advice from the pros.
