Best Fashion Schools in New YorkNew York has been ranked as the number one fashion capital of the world according to Statista, followed by Paris and Milan.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the city also has several schools dedicated to teaching the art of design.

If you are wishing to break into the fashion industry, then you should never underestimate the importance of education when it comes to launching your career in fashion.

Whether you’re looking to become an architect, illustrator, or costume designer, this list of New York fashion schools will provide you with all the resources you need to launch your career in the Big Apple!

What can one do with a fashion degree in New York?

Fashion designers create clothing, accessories, and footwear, with a fashion degree in New York, you can work in wholesale or manufacturing establishments, apparel companies, retailers, theater or dance companies, and design firms. 

To become a fashion designer, you need to attend any of the fashion schools near you and complete the four-year bachelor’s degree program.

What is the Salary Outlook for a fashion designer?

Salary Outlook for Fashion Designers: [BLS]

Average Salary $77,459 per year/ $37.24 per hour
Entry Education Bachelor’s degree
Number Employed 22,400
Job Outlook, 2021-31 3%
Work Experience None

From the table above, we can deduce that the job prospect for a fashion designer is growing by 3% from 2021 to 2031 according to the Bureau of Statistics, the median annual wage for fashion designers was $77,450 in May 2021.

What are the best fashion schools in New York?

Best Fashion Schools in New York1. Parsons New School of Fashion Design

Parsons New School of Fashion Design is one of the best fashion schools in New York City offering top-notch programs across the spectrum of art and design, from fashion and technology to urban design, fine art, and management.

The school offers about 37 different programs in NYC and Paris, and with the small class sizes, it is easier to unleash your creativity while learning the craft.

In the past 10 years, Parsons New School of Fashion Design has produced tons of marquee name talents, the school also offers financial aid to assist students, and if you are looking for a fashion design powerhouse, Parsons is a good place to start from.

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2. Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

Founded in 1944, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is a public college in New York City and a part of the State University of New York concentrating on art, business, design, mass communication, and technology connected to the fashion industry.

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If you are looking for a prestigious fashion school in New York, the FIT has the highest-paid grads in the nation in textile and apparel studies and is ranked #53 among the best marketing colleges in the U.S.

And as with most prestigious schools, the FIT is not quite easy to get into, the applicants are assessed based on class rank, grades in college, preparatory coursework, student essay, and a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Some of the famous majors at the Fashion Institute of Technology include:

  • Visual and Performing Arts, General
  • Business/Commerce, General
  • Communication and Media Studies, and
  • Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General.

The FItT is also one of the fashion schools with financial aid for students, and some of the popular alumni of the Fashion Institute of Technology include Calvin Klein, Nina García, Michael Kors, and Bibhu Mohapatra.

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3. Pratt Institute School of Fashion Design

Located in New York City, the department of fashion at the Pratt Institute offers related concept-led, craft-based education programs for students all over the globe.

The school offers undergraduate degrees in communications design (with an emphasis on graphic design or illustration), fashion design, industrial design, and interior design.

As one of the best fashion schools in New York City, the students are taught the practice of fashion as one’s cultural embodiment within a social framework, with this hands-on learning process, they receive rigorous attention to production, craft, and contemporary aesthetics.

Pratt Institute of fashion design helps the student to bring out their creative flair and communicate their vision through proficiency in construction and illustration skills, fluency with materials, traditional techniques, and digital tech­nologies.

Pratt Institute also offers financial aid to students to help offset costs, many top creative designers have been produced from this school.

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4. LIM College

For those interested in the business of fashion, check out LIM College, one of the best fashion schools in New York.

This is a privately-owned institution in Midtown Manhattan focused on the business of fashion, the programs here lead to master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degree programs in fashion-focused majors.

It was cited by Wikipedia as one of The Best Fashion Schools in the World in 2019 in the BoF’s (The Business of Fashion) global assessment of fashion education.

LIM College is also one of the fashion schools that offer financial aid to help students.

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5. Rochester Institute of Technology

Founded in 1829, Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, coeducational, four-year school offering bachelor’s, master and Ph.D. degrees in Art, Crafts, and Design.

The university offers undergraduate and graduates degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees and online masters as well.

Students interested in fashion design should check out the school’s website for more information.

6. The Art Institute of New York City

The Art Institute of New York City is a for-profit college in New York City with a focus on education, student outcomes, and community involvement.

Upcoming fashion designers will learn from the experience of the experts in the industry, the school offers one-on-one mentorship and guidance as they push students to be bold, experiment, and take risks with their designs.

The fashion design programs offered by the Art Institute help students build foundational skills in garment construction, fashion illustration, textiles, and pattern making.

Students advance these programs using industrial sewing machines, computer-aided design software, and other professional-grade equipment and technology.

One of the reasons most students love the Art Institute is that they help prepare graduates to pursue entry-level roles in fashion design and development, and also helps them find opportunities that match their talent and ambition.

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7. The New York Sewing Center

The New York Sewing Center is also one of the top fashion design schools in the state offering sewing and design classes for all ages and levels.

Located in the heart of the garment district, many students visit this center to get acquainted with different fashion designs and explore their creativity.

Whether you prefer group classes or personalized one-on-one lessons, the New York Sewing Center has a spot for you.

8. SUNY Westchester Community College

Located in Valhalla, New York, Westchester Community College is a public community college and is part of the State University of New York system.

The fashion merchandising program enlightens students on the production of beautiful apparel and how to build a business with it, leading to an AAS in Fashion Merchandising and AAS in Fashion Technology and Construction.

Students are prepared to fill positions in fashion design and manufacturing and other firms associated with the fashion industry.

The student may choose to transfer to a four-year college after graduation to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, you can look out for the financial aid program.

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9. Esaie Couture Design School

Established in 2007, Esaie Couture Design School is a well-recognized boutique sewing school in New York City.

They offer programs in fashion design for all ages and for all levels, you can learn sewing from basics to advanced, before the end of your program, you will be skilled in dressmaking, tailoring, and pattern making.

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You can get details about the school, read reviews, and even contact them to know more.

10. CUNY Kingsborough Community College

Kingsborough Community College is a 2-year public community college in Brooklyn, and one of the fashion schools in New York offering programs that lead to an AAS degree.

This AAS degree in fashion design prepares the student for a career as a Designer or an Assistant Designer.

Students get hands-on learning experience and field-work practice to learn the basic methods designers use to create collections, aesthetics, and style trends to provide artistic and commercial perspectives on the current fashion.

After graduation, the student might transfer to a four-year school to further a bachelor’s degree, KBCC also offers financial aid to students.

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11. Cornell University

Cornell University is a private Ivy League and statutory land-grant research university, based in Ithaca, New York offering a bachelor’s degree program in fashion.

For students interested in a fashion degree from Cornell University, you will have to choose from either of the two options;

  • Fashion Design (Option I)
  • and Fashion Design Management (Option II)

Fashion Design (Option I):

The first option focuses mainly on the fashion design process, here the student will learn to bring up conceptual design thinking with apparel skills, and design methods with innovative, cutting-edge technologies.

Fashion Design Management (Option II):

The second option strongly focuses on the processes used to design, the tools for production, and the textile products. Students will creatively explore designs, and learn the business aspect of fashion.

Students are advised to start from the first option and advance to the next, you can also learn more about the financial aid program.

12. Cazenovia College

Cazenovia College is one of the fashion colleges in New York that offers a bachelor of professional studies in Fashion Merchandising program that strongly focuses on the business of fashion.

The students are taught to use traditional and computer-assisted methods in illustrating fashion.

One of the main reasons students love Cazenovia College is its small class size, allowing hands-on learning which builds confidence in the craft.

Cazenovia College also offers financial aid to students, helping them offset costs.

Other fashion schools in New York include;

  • Marist College
  • Nassau Community College
  • Syracuse University
  • New York School of Design
  • Wood Tobe-Coburn School
  • Villa Maria College

Conclusion

We hope that this list of the best fashion schools in New York has been helpful for you, if so kindly share this article to help someone today.

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Agbai Obasi
Agbai Obasi

Agbai Obasi is the founder of Ziiky.com and related brands; he is currently a master-level student of Information Security Systems Management, managing the security operations of this site; in his spare time, he creates tailored blog contents that speak directly to the needs and interests of students. Visit his website below to stay updated with cybersecurity industry insights, best practices, and more.

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