Most Affordable Master's In Fashion Degrees

A ranking of the best master's in fashion degrees. Ranked by affordability, flexibility, and academic quality.

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Best Master's in Fashion Degrees Badge

Tailor your education and career with one of the nation’s best master’s in fashion degrees.

Do you want to elevate your creative edge while also building a solid career? Whether you’re interested theory or practice, global perspectives on fashion or the newest textiles, you should consider a master’s in fashion degree.

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What kind of master’s in fashion degree should you get?

There are many ways to study fashion.

You can explore its theoretical foundations, looking at how globalization has affected the industry. Or you can work on your own creative projects. Whichever route you take, just be sure to find a program that honors your vision and supports your projects.

Another consideration that should be a part of your decision-making process is online education. Not only is it a flexible way to enhance your career, it’s one of the most affordable ways to earn an advanced degree.

So be sure to check out College Choice’s Best Online Colleges and Universities.

How much money do people make with a master’s in fashion degree?

Because there are many ways to implement your fashion degree, through education or writing or the industry itself, average salaries can vary.

However, rest assured that your degree will pay for itself!

Fashion designers make at least $67,000 a year. And that’s with limited education and experience. An advanced degree will award you tons of added experience, connections, and insights. Indeed, those boasting such a background can make upwards of $102,000 a year.

What can you do with a master’s in fashion degree?

As we wrote above, the career opportunities for one with an advanced degree in fashion are many. If you obtain a creative degree you could find yourself working directly in the industry, designing the newest look. If you earn a theory-based degree you could also find yourself in the industry, or working in higher education, sales and buying, marketing, and much more.

From visual merchandiser to college professor, a Master’s in Film will help you get your foot in a competitive industry.

What are the requirements for a master’s in fashion degree?

These are two-year programs that have varying requirements depending on their area of emphasis.

For example, while the creative-based programs will require workshops, one-on-ones with faculty, exhibitions, and a final creative thesis, theory-based programs have a different set of requirements. They may ask you to participate in at least one internship, or to spend part or all of your degree abroad.

Here at College Choice we’ve been sure to note the unique requirements of each unique program.

What are the best master’s in fashion degrees?

Though some of these programs are offered through small art schools and others through large research universities, they all share one thing in common: they are the nation’s best master’s in Fashion programs.

To determine the best we first looked at all the top programs across the country. We brought in crucial factors, such as academic reputation and student retention. Finally, we calculated tuition rates and the placements and salaries of graduates to get an idea of the return on investment.

This comprehensive research led us to the nation’s best master’s in fashion programs.

Our figures and information come from the university and colleges’ websites, PayScale, and nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.

Top Master's in Fashion Degrees

See our rankings methodology page.

  1. The New School
    Location

    New York, NY

    Tuition

    $45504

    Overview

    What better place to earn a degree in fashion than in the world’s cultural mecca? The New School is a private arts academy located in Greenwich Village. It was founded on the premise that academic freedom and intellectual inquiry should define education. Today the college is comprised of five divisions offering a range of arts degrees.

    Features,/

    The New School offers an MA in Fashion Studies program that is a unique combination of practice and theory. Not only will you be immersed in interdisciplinary methodologies, you’ll also gain a global perspective on fashion by exploring issues such as sustainability, technology, and digital futures. Classes include:

    • Interpreting Fashion
    • Fashion, History, and Mediation
    • Fashion Studies: Key Concepts

    Notables

    The New School will not only give you one of the best fashion educations in the nation, it will also send you to Paris for a fully immersive experience. While living and studying in Paris, you will gain broad insight into European styles and history. And you will have access to one of the world’s best fashion centers.

  2. Fashion Institute of Technology
    Location

    New York, NY

    Tuition

    $10430

    Overview

    Also based in Manhattan, the Fashion Institute of Technology is a public college. With under 10,000 combined undergraduate and graduate students, FIT boasts a small setting that focuses on the nexus of fashion and art, design, communication, and technology.

    Features,/

    FIT offers a two-year MA in Fashion and Textile Studies program with an emphasis on History, Theory, and Museum Practice. Through this program you will be fully trained in fashion history. And you will be given the opportunity to specialize in either curatorial or conservation studies. Graduates from this program have gone on to find work as:

    • College Instructors
    • Vintage Dealers
    • Private Collection Managers

    Notables

    For those searching for a practical, hands-on degree in fashion, FIT may have what you need. During your time there you will have the opportunity to complete at least one internship. Students have worked everywhere from the MET’s Museum of Arts Costume Institute to the Brooklyn Museum. Not only that, you will get to plan and execute an exhibition at The Museum of FIT.

  3. Savannah College of Art and Design
    Location

    Savannah, GA

    Tuition

    $40856

    Overview

    Savannah College of Art and Design is located in Savannah, GA with additional campuses in Atlanta and around the world. SCAD provides fine arts education and research opportunities, offering degrees in everything from urban design to fashion, dance, animation, and more. Approximately 13,000 students attend SCAD.

    Features,/

    For those searching for a degree that combines art and leadership, SCAD has the program for you. They offer an MA in Luxury and Fashion Management program.

    • Global Distribution for Luxury Brands
    • Marketing Strategies for Luxury Brands and Experiences
    • Visual Narrative for Consumer Engagement
    • Forecasting and Business Trends

    Notables

    If you want to study fashion with SCAD you have an array of options before you. Their fashion graduate degrees can be earned in Atlanta, Hong Kong, Savannah, or online. And whichever you choose, you’ll be studying with the top-ranked graduate fashion program, according to The Business of Fashion.

  4. Drexel University
    Location

    Philadelphia, PA

    Tuition

    $39021

    Overview

    Drexel University is a research-based, co-op school located in Philadelphia. It was founded to provide degrees specifically in the arts, sciences, and technology. Today the university is home to nearly 200 academic degrees and more than 26,000 students.

    Features,/

    Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design offers a Master’s in Fashion Design degree. This creative-based program was designed to encourage students’ personal artistic visions, helping them work toward their own creative goals. At Drexel you will be at the intersection of art, design, technology, and science. Courses cover:

    • Materials Exploration
    • Draping Design
    • Fashion Design I and II
    • Fashion Drawing for Industry

    Notables

    This is an ideal program for those who have a substantial creative project or portfolio already underway and who want to develop it with the help of faculty, cohort members, and industry leaders. At Drexel, you will have the opportunity to work in an individualized studio environment.

  5. Kent State University
    Location

    Kent, OH

    Tuition

    $18180

    Overview

    Kent State University is located in Kent, OH. It was originally founded as a teacher’s college, but today it offers more than 300 academic and professional degree programs. Nearly 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students attend KSU.

    Features,/

    The School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Kent State provides a Master of Fashion Industry Studies program that is highly customizable and interdisciplinary. You will explore the ins and outs of the fashion industry while also gaining hands-on experience through the University’s TechStyleLAB and Fashion School Store. Classes include:

    • Forms of Inquiry in the Fashion Industry
    • The Fashion Industry: A Unifying Lens
    • Advanced Fashion Industry Practice

    Notables

    Kent State offers a few funded graduate assistantships to its fashion students, making graduate school that much easier and more affordable. This is also a unique program in that it heavily considers business principles and entrepreneurship practices. Indeed, the director of the program has said, “We think of this program as the future of the fashion industry in practice.”

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