As of late, fashion design is one of the most rapidly growing majors in colleges around the world. Fashion designers are people who always have a finger on the pulse of the latest trends and are some of the most glamorous and innovative people in the design industry. If you’re interested in joining this elite club, here are the ten best places to go (in no particular order) to pursue a career in fashion design.
Acceptance rate: 44.8 percent.
Why it’s one of the best: FIT is currently ranked among the top five fashion schools in the world. Admission is competitive for good reason. After all, alumni include Calvin Klein and Michael Kors. It’s a notoriously cutthroat school, made for ambitious students who are truly serious about having a future in fashion design.
Acceptance rate: 63 percent.
Why it’s one of the best: Parsons is a popular choice for fashion design hopefuls because it’s represented so much in pop culture. “Project Runway” was filmed there! It’s a highly creative school that offers each student the freedom to pursue his or her individual passions for style and design.
Acceptance rate: 84.4 percent.
Why it’s one of the best: Many men and women are surprised to hear that Kent State has one of the best fashion programs in the country. It’s one of the few schools that offers students an opportunity to present their own fashion show. They also have another campus in New York City, specifically for Kent State students and those from other institutions.
Acceptance rate: 66 percent.
Why it’s one of the best: SCAD has some of the best connections with influential fashion celebrities; André Leon Talley is also on the board of directors. It boasts many unique departments and is also located in the idyllic Southern town of Savannah.
Acceptance rate: 51 percent.
Why it’s one of the best: Otis College was the city of Los Angeles’s first official independent school of art. Due to the star-studded location of Los Angeles, Otis students have the advantage of mentorship from top designers in the industry.
Acceptance rate: 51.8 percent.
Why it’s one of the best: Colloquially referred to as FIDM, the school also places an enormous emphasis on fashion merchandising. This proves to be a benefit for men and women in the industry, as they learn the business side of fashion and design.
Acceptance rate: 76 percent.
Why it’s one of the best: Drexel‘s fashion program has consistently been included in lists of the Top Ten Fashion Schools in America. Drexel’s unique fashion design major boasts a rigorous curriculum, putting students to the test in designing every type of clothing imaginable, from swimwear to children’s clothing.
Acceptance rate: 27.2 percent.
Why it’s one of the best: The Royal College of Art , located in the midst of the London fashion hub , is considered one of the world’s most elite fashion schools. They strongly encourage student independence as they allow students to create their own diverse projects. Emphasis is also placed on presentation and how coherently students can present their projects.
Acceptance rate: 63.4 percent.
Why it’s one of the best: Pratt is one of few schools that allow fashion design majors to incorporate other types of art into their work. They also allow students to explore other concentrations of study. The classroom settings at Pratt are also very intimate, with the student-teacher ratio being six to one.
Acceptance rate: Unknown
Why it’s one of the best: This inspired institution boasts campuses in the some of the fashion capitals of the world and is internationally renowned for nearly all of its programs. Ninety percent of their students enter jobs shortly after graduation and pursue inspirational careers in the fashion industry.
