Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Fashion Designers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Santa Monica College, Fashion Institute, Academy of Art, and Ventura College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Mt Sierra College, Bethesda Christian, Fashion Institute, and Fashion Institute.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Fashion Institute and Fashion Institute.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Otis College of Art and Design, Art Center, San Francisco State, and UCLA.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Mendocino College, Monterey Peninsula College, Santa Ana College, and Canada College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of San Francisco Art Institute, California Institute of the Arts, Academy of Art, and California College of the Arts.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Point Loma Nazarene University, UCLA, California Institute of the Arts, and UC Davis.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at UCLA and UC Davis.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at UCLA, California Institute of the Arts, Otis College of Art and Design, and UC Davis.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at California Institute of the Arts, UC Davis, Point Loma Nazarene University, and UCLA.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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The Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Fashion Design AA (completion in 2010)
• 9/19/2011
"I am satisfied with the education that I got, but I do believe that I could have learned a lot more if they focused on fitting different body types and fitting live models. Though there are some things that I would change about the program, I did learn a lot."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | FIDM is what the student makes of it. If they're not willing to work hard and think that fashion design is easy, I wouldn't recommend the school to them. However, if on really wants to go into design, enjoy every aspect of it, and want it badly enough to deal with the stress and tears. In the end, FIDM is a very enjoyable and rewarding learning experience. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Although the goals of the program got confusing at times, I do believe that the fashion design program at FIDM is a very good experience. It pushes students to do their best and teaches them that they'll get only what they put into it. Focus is a big part of the fashion design program and if a student doesn't have it, they're not going to make it. |
| Program Quality | 8 | FIDM had a lot of amazing teachers and great resources, but I do believe that they could have changed the curriculum to help students understand tailoring and fitting better. We didn't learn how to fit clothing to different body shapes which I believe is a setback since Americans have so many different body types. |
| Instruction | 7 | Considering what I knew before I went to FIDM, I learned a lot and developed my sewing, draping, and pattern skills so much. Sometimes it seemed as if the teachers were even confused about the curriculum because it was changing so quickly. This was frustrating at times for students who were looking for guidance. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The challenge and workload were highly stressful and I frequently had to stay up all night to finish work. However, this taught me a good work ethic and made me work harder on things once I graduated. It made me take pride in my work because I did way more than I ever thought that I could. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some teachers preferred hands-on learning by demonstrating techniques and lecturing. They expected us to use the book if we had any problems or questions at home. Other teachers would give us page numbers and let us ask them questions if we needed to. The situation varied in every class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Even though I didn't always get the classes that I wanted, our school had a lot of choices. I always found a way to work out my schedule due to their many options of different times, days, and teachers. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising had very good resources at their Los Angeles campus. I attended their San Diego campus first and would not recommend any other campus than the main one in LA because I feel that starting in San Diego set me back. Since the San Diego campus didn't have as many resources or lab times with teachers, I didn't get to fully excel. |
| Social Life | 5 | There were not many social events at FIDM. There were events held at the smaller campuses because everyone knew each other, but in Los Angeles they didn't make much of an effort to get students together. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Although they have good job placement in California and New York, I think that they forget about the smaller states and other areas of the world. They need to work on reaching everyone. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | There are alumni newsletters sent out every now and then and alumni groups in every state, but I do think that they need to develop them a little more; especially in Hawaii and other small states. |
UCSB • Santa Barbara, CA
Studying Art (completion in 2011)
• 1/19/2012
"I took a lot from my experience at UCSB. I would have gained more from a practice-oriented school, but I learned what I could."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I think there are better choices for people who want to go into the fashion industry. There are schools that will prepare you for practicing your field when you graduate, but I feel as if UCSB is more of a preparation for grad school. I would most likely recommend an art institute, or some place like FIDM. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | I don't feel like the major has a good reputation. People don't think of art majors when they think of UCSB. |
| Program Quality | 4 | The major at my school was too theory-based. I would have liked to practice more of what we were studying. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were very good. Most of them were very accomplished in their field and had a lot to offer. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was not very hard to maintain good grades in art classes. There were many classes that challenged you. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school was very book learning oriented. The classes were based on theory rather than practice, which I disliked. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | It was usually very easy to get classes that fit. There were classes all throughout the day in different courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We had good facilities. There were nice labs to use as well as studio spaces. |
| Social Life | 9 | I had a lot of fun at my school. It is a very social place and everyone is very friendly. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I received no job placement assistance. I don't believe the art department actively engages students with employers. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't feel a strong connection to alumni. I feel like most schools do more to connect the alumni. |
Marymount Palos Verdes College • Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Studying Design And Merchandising (completion in 1989)
• 1/20/2012
"I wasted two years at this school and should have had more confidence and have applied to a four year university instead."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Absolutely do not go here. Choose an arts specific school or just jump into the industry and learn through work. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | I haven't heard anyone else studying this major at the school. Most choose an art school. |
| Program Quality | 1 | The program was poor. It didn't prepare me at all for the working world. The school had absolutely no connections in fashion to assist in internships or job placement. |
| Instruction | 1 | The professors I had were bitter that they were teaching and not working in the field. They were discouraging and unimaginative. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Projects were very simple and we were not pushed to perform. Teaching was done from a book rather than experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Only book. There were no-hands on experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Class offerings are small so there isn't a lot of flexibility. Also because classes are small it's very apparent when you aren't there. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | There was a very small incomplete library. The school had no connections to major museums in the area to assist with research. |
| Social Life | 5 | It's very much like an extended high school. The social events were very organized, prom-like gatherings. |
| Placement Services | Absolutely nonexistent. Jobs are acquired by children working for their wealthy parents. | |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There are no networking opportunities. I am only contacted to donate money. |
California Design College • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Fashion Design (completion in 2003)
• 1/19/2012
"I was satisfied with my school, as I learned all the basic skills I needed for my career. I only wished that they had a better alumni and career services to make getting a job easier for students after graduation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If they really loved fashion and were given the facts on how difficult industry is, then I would recommend the school. Otherwise I would advise them to find another career. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | California Design College was bought by the Art Institute which, unfortunately, is not known to have a strong Fashion Design Major in the industry. It is also very expensive to attend. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Classes were very good as they incorporated computer skills in the program like Photoshop, illustrator, U4ia etc. Average rating because it was very expensive and the job placement was not as advertised. |
| Instruction | 5 | Basic skills taught in terms of design, pattern-making and sewing, computer skills were good enough in preparation for my career. Unfortunately, I think the most important skills needed were learned from the various job experience, for example management, deadlines, production, sales etc. |
| How Difficult | 1 | The teachers were very good and I loved the computer programs. I was also a very good student and was eager to learn. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Because they had a lot of working professionals attending the school, they tried to provide both hands on and book learning experience for the students. I don't think being very hands on is possible in school because it is learned from experience working with various fashion companies, not classrooms. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I loved the schedule when I was attending California Design College. It catered to both new fashion design students and working professionals who wanted to brush up on their computer skills, so the classes were very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Since the school was fairly small, accessibility to professors or tutors was incredible. We were also able to have computers for everyone. Because the school was fairly new, the media, library resources were very limited. |
| Social Life | 1 | There was no social experience in California Design College. The school was more vocational/skill based so there were no extra curricular activities available. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Because it was not as popular as other fashion-based colleges, a lot of employers did not post jobs in their career services. I also feel that it had a very weak alumni network so job opportunities are very limited. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | The school was fairly new so it did not have a large alumni network. I also feel that they did not endeavor to build this program as it was not a priority. |
Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising (FIDM) • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Fashion Design (completion in 2003)
• 1/27/2012
"The education was good. I haven't thought about it in a while, so writing about the school makes me want to go back and see what has changed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Depends - you can get the same education I believe from a community college. FIDM has a remarkable reputation, so that alone can turn some heads. It all depends on what you want. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | As far as I know, very good! I know whenever I would mention the school people were always impressed! |
| Program Quality | 8 | For the most part the education was good. I did have some teachers who were obviously never cut out to be teaching. They were too mean and didn't understand they were there to help us, not to put us down. |
| Instruction | 6 | There was a lot of repetition, but I really enjoyed it because I could see myself improving. What I did not like was that I had only one sewing class. |
| How Difficult | 9 | It would get really difficulty draping, drafting out a pattern, blocking it, and then completing a sample in one night! |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We looked at the book for a moment, then it was all hands on. That was so much fun! | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Pretty much set for us - not much flexibility. Could be different, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Great! Always getting the current trend books in the library. A lot of places to study, beautiful park to hang out in. Great location - close to the Fabric District! The only thing I can remember is that for part of their classes they had 2 loft like building you had to go to. One was near the school and the other building was down a ways. It was not the distance that was bad - the building just looked unsafe. |
| Social Life | 1 | There was nothing except a sorority type thing. Very cliquey, as I said before. Everyone seemed to be on a different page. This was probably the one thing that made it the hardest for me because I love interaction. |
| Placement Services | 2 | They talked up how wonderful this was before I applied. Not even close. I was young so I didn't understand the whole internship thing or how they worked. I never knew you had to be in school to be able to intern. I found this out my last quarter. So they did a poor job of informing us of all our possibilities and what the requirements were. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I haven't really looked into it much. I do know they send out a newsletter a couple times a year telling us who's doing what. Sometimes they have events. I have never gone because I never really felt like I made any friends there. It actually was a really cold place - very cliquey. |
Academy Of Art University • San Francisco, CA
Studying Fashion Design (completion in 2009)
• 1/23/2012
"I loved the experiences and the education I received. The only reason I take any points away is the distance from my family."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Without a doubt, the education you receive at the Academy of Art is one of the best in the industry. There are no other colleges that can compare as far as staff and state of the art equipment. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The Academy provides one of the greatest educations in the industry. Select students are even given the opportunity to participate in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City, the ultimate in the fashion industry. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The Academy provided me with an excellent education that I believe to be unmatched. I loved the city and being surrounded by such creative and talented people. |
| Instruction | 7 | The professors were all beyond knowledgeable in the field because they had all worked in it, either currently or in the past. They used their experiences to teach us how to better ourselves. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The world of fashion design is not an easy one. It takes not only intelligence, but also extreme passion and dedication. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Nearly all of the education you receive in this field is hands on. While there are classes, such as Art History, that focus on studying books, most of the work involves getting your hands dirty. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | With such specialized classes it is hard to make your schedule work around you. You need to work around your schedule. However, long classes allow you to have some days of the week off so you aren't taking classes everyday. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Everything you could possibly imagine is at your finger tips. State of the art work rooms are provided for every major, from Textile Design to Digital Media. The facilities really are spectacular. |
| Social Life | 6 | Being an art school, sports are not a focus. That being said, there are not typical forms of school spirt. However, students are encouraged to bond in many other ways, such as at mixers. |
| Placement Services | 5 | While the reputation of The Academy of Art provides amazing opportunities for its students, it is very hard to find jobs in the fashion industry. The Academy does everything they can, but it is such a cutthroat industry that it's almost impossible. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | While they do have some events to attend, they are few and far between. Also, I live on the other side of the country, which makes it very hard to keep in contact. |
The Fashion Institute Of Design & Merchandising • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Product Development (completion in 2001)
• 1/21/2012
"I feel I received a wonderful education for the money I spent on tuition, supplies, etc. The education was second to none and I feel I would not have the confidence in the industry I have today had I not attended."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would absolutely recommend this college to someone serious about going into the fashion industry. This place means business and is not for those still "figuring it out." The campus can be very intimidating, as can the professors and the courses themselves. However, with determination and a little bit of talent, a person can go a long way. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | FIDM is a well known and respected college that turns out well prepared and talented individuals ready for the industry. I have been well received at every job interview, largely due to recognition of FIDM's reputation as a quality fashion school. |
| Program Quality | 6 | At the time I attended FIDM, the Product Development program was evolving. I paid an insane amount of tuition to be studying photocopied books that were still being written. Overall, the school is superior to the competition and ultimately, what it lacked in materials, was made up for with professor experience. |
| Instruction | 10 | Instructors were hands on and very on point with what was going on in our industry. We were taught the tools we needed to be successful in our field. We studied color, hand (flat) and computerized sketching (illustrator), pattern making, sewing, etc. The program combined with the teachers resulted in a well balanced curriculum. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The work load was very intense due to the fact that we were expected to learn quickly and crank out quality real life projects expected in the work place. For example, product lines, including researching demographics of target market and pitching entire business plans. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I rated this mixed due to the fact that a book was necessary to have a guideline to what we were learning. However, the research, development, and materialization was extremely hands on. We often visited businesses to research textiles, used tools, tested fabrics, etc. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The Los Angeles campus provides a variety of schedules allowing for maximum flexibility to meet student's needs. I was able to attend morning and evening classes. I do not believe FIDM offers weekend courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The campus is beautiful and cutting edge, from the designer fashions adorning the campus to the computer rooms. When I attended there were at least two rooms where students had access to study and use books, computers, publications, etc. |
| Social Life | 2 | I was unaware of school spirit, athletics, parties, etc. I believe most students are so consumed in studies that it is not a place to seek extracurricular activities outside of working towards a career. Organized social events consisted of career fairs and social networking for the benefit of students and companies attending. |
| Placement Services | 10 | As mentioned earlier, the life time job placement is second to none. The website provides job leads in every major nationwide, and I believe also worldwide. My apologies, I've never checked!! |
| Alumni Network | 10 | FIDM provides a career center on campus to help students and alumni find jobs with the help of counselors. Additionally, FIDM has online job placement available for life via the alumni portal on www.fidm.com. |
FIDM (Fashion Institute Of Design & Merchandising) • San Francisco, CA
Studying Fashion Design (completion in 2007)
• 2/27/2012
"I work a job were I felt under trained when I arrived, however I am financially stable. I do not have the training to change focuses in the industry."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I chose this school due to convenience of its location. If I could do my education over again, I would pursue going to the school with the best program specific to my needs. Cost and location would not be as high of a priority. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | It is known and has several locations on the west coast, however it is not the best school for fashion. |
| Program Quality | 4 | Expensive. The major needs to be more specific with more job experience required. |
| Instruction | 4 | There was a huge gap between teacher and student. Teachers needed to be taught how to teach. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Easy material, however heavy workload. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Almost every class was conducted in a lab or studio. All our tests were in forms of patterns or samples. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | They offer one class per quarter and give spots to whoever has priority. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Great facilities, except around finals, labs and studios were booked for days. |
| Social Life | 9 | Many events would go on, and being in the city centre many venues would be close to campus. Great, supportive network amongst peers. |
| Placement Services | 4 | Placement help was good for me during my studies, however they don't offer much post-graduating. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They keep alumni in-the-know with newsletters, however I am always too busy to read them. |
Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising • Los Angeles, CA
Studying (completion in 1984)
• 3/27/2012
"I was 18 when I started at FIDM. I came from a very small town so the exposure to such a large fashion capitol was very good for me, however, the school did not deliver what it had promised as far as job placement. I got the feeling that a lot of the students that attended FIDM were students that had not done well academically in High School and their parents simply didn't know where else to send them."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | It has been a long time since I attended FIDM, however, I still don't hear positive things about students really making it. I believe the education and placement help from schools like the Fashion Institute of Technology is much stronger. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | I have two college age children with friends in the program. These individuals are all disappointed that they did not attend a more focused program like the one at the Fashion Institute of Technology. |
| Program Quality | 4 | FIDM places Merchandising students in local Department store positions. I worked in a local department store while I was in school so the reality of being in the same spot after graduating was disappointing. |
| Instruction | 7 | I had some wonderful teachers that came from the industry. They were very well qualified and stimulating to learn from. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I had a 3.5 GPA in High School and found the program to be challenging. The classes were stimulating and the directions were well thought out for my major. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Classes such as Econ were very book oriented. Classes like Evolution of Apparel were both lecture based and involved touring the industry around us. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | In 1984 the school was fairly new. We didn't have a lot of choice in the classes we took. You took 3 classes a semester and were required to work in the industry. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | Our classrooms were quiet, however the first year I attended the school was located in a local bank building, the second year it was held in the top two floors of a large furniture building in downtown LA. Much has changed now - the schools have actual campuses! |
| Social Life | 2 | The school did not have dorms when I attended and we were required to work. People commuted from a 60 plus mile radius. We studied, commuted, and worked. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The school placed most of the students back in local department stores. It is disappointing to spend this kind of money to attend a Fashion Institute and be placed at a job that one could have obtained on their own without a degree. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The school has a heavy budget for advertising. I receive newspapers from them quarterly. FIDM encourages graduates to tell their story both in the newsletter and back in the classroom to new students. |
Ex'pression • Emeryville, CA
Studying Motion Graphic Design (completion in 2011)
• 4/12/2012
"WAY TOO MUCH MONEY. The cost of education vs. your value or what you will be paid when you leave college doesn't make sense at all. You're essentially forced to either DREAM REALLY BIG AND CROSS YOUR FINGERS, or spend a quarter million dollars to get yourself an MBA and hope to land a 6 figure job to pay down your loans for the rest of your life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It really depends on if the individual can afford it. More than afford it, if they really need the extra help of a classroom setting to learn the tools they need to accomplish whatever it is they are trying to accomplish. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It's a small school, with reputable instructors as well as our alum who have worked at a lot of top tier design, video, marketing, and sound firms. |
| Program Quality | 5 | They do teach you the essentials, and train you to utilize the necessary software to enhance your skills. The downside would be the cost of tuition, which is tremendously high, and not worth it at the end of the day. |
| Instruction | 5 | Our instructors were "industry professionals" who did know a lot about how to design things in Maya, or how to properly correct images in Photoshop. But for the most part, they were in no sense a good teacher. Some WERE! But most...were not. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was challenging in the sense that learning any new software, text, or study is difficult. Once you have actually spent the man hours to dive into it and get to learn exactly what you need to be doing, it's a breeze. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Everything was essentially hands-on. There was a few hours of lecture prior to actually diving into the actual work, but for the most part it was heavily based upon what you could produce physically. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | You have to do it according to their schedule. Which in my experience has prolonged graduation if you fail, or miss any classes in your track. This can be burdensome to those who work/school at the same time. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | We always had the best software, as well the as the best hardware. Our labs were open 24/7 and we could utilize pretty much all aspects of our school whenever we wanted. |
| Social Life | 3 | This was more of a working student type of facility. There was a lot of networking that can be done at the school but for the most part, you learned, you studied, and you went about your life. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I'm not certain what the exact rate is for placement, but I do know that the staff works diligently to get you a good job in your field. Like I said, constant emails all day everyday. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I constantly receive emails and updates about what's happening at my school. The network is very strong, and the staff is always there to assist alumni. |
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