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Fashion-Schools.org is excited to bring you our 2023 Fashion Merchandising School rankings. Each year, we compile a list of the top list of the Top Fashion Merchandising Schools and Colleges in the United States. Our definitive ranking of the top fashion merchandising schools in the U.S. is based on factors like the schools’ admission data, graduation success, reputation and an extensive proprietary survey conducted with school & industry stakeholders. In addition to our Top 50 National rankings, we are happy to provide regional rankings as well.
Below you'll find the Top 10 Fashion Merchandising Schools in the West. We define the West Coast as California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.
For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
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Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, CA
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) offers AA degrees in Merchandising & Marketing, Beauty Industry Merchandising & Marketing, and Apparel Industry Management, and AA Professional Designation degrees in Merchandising & Marketing and Beauty Industry Management. Per FIDM, “executives from companies like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Guess? Inc. visit regularly in classes that prepare grads for retail careers. Students have interned at companies like TJX, Halston, and BCBG and graduates leave the program with a portfolio of work that illustrates real world skills.”
In addition, all FIDM students have the opportunity to participate in the annual study tours program, which will take them to fashion capitals such as New York, Paris, London, Rome, Milan, and more. Students may also participate in the annual DEBUT Runway Show, which is streamed online and televised.
About FIDM: Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) was founded in 1969. It is home to 5,300 students, 300 faculty members, and an advisory board that includes “industry giants” such as Fred Segal, Diane von Furstenberg, Tim Gunn (of Project Runway, Filmed at FIDM), and Emanuel Ungaro. The school consists of four campuses with locations in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Irvine, California and it offers 26 creative majors leading to an AA, BA or BS in the areas of fashion, graphics, interior design or entertainment.
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Academy of Art University, CA
Academy of Art University was established in 1929. The school, which had a 2016 fall enrollment of 7,959 students, offers dozens of programs in the areas of art and design. The School of Fashion at Academy of Art offers several programs for aspiring fashion designers. Undergraduate offerings include an AA in Fashion, a BFA in Fashion with an Emphasis in Fashion Design, Textile Design, or Knitwear Design, BFA degrees in Fashion Product Development and Costume Design, a Certificate in Fashion, and an Online Award of Completion in Fashion Design. A BA degree in Fashion Journalism is also offered. Graduate offerings include MFA degrees in Fashion, Costume Design, Fashion Product Development, Knitwear Design, Textile Design & Fashion Merchandising and Management.
According to the Academy, fashion students have access to facilities that feature “the same leading-edge equipment and resources that top fashion houses enjoy.” Internship opportunities are also available as well as the opportunity to participate in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City and the Annual Graduation Fashion Show in San Francisco. According to the Academy, “the show has been heralded as the ‘Fashion Week of San Francisco’ by both local and national members of the fashion industry.
Graduates of the Academy of Art University have been hired at major companies such as Gap, Kate Spade, Levi Strauss & Co., Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, and many others.
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Cal State - Los Angeles, CA
California State University – Los Angeles (Cal State LA or CSU LA) was founded in 1947 as Los Angeles State College. The school is home to nearly 28,000 students enrolled in hundreds of programs across eight colleges. The College of Arts & Letters is home to the Department of Art, which offers several programs for aspiring fashion merchandisers. Offerings include a BA in Art with an Option in Fashion and Textiles/Specialization Fashion Merchandising, MA and MFA degrees in Art with an Option in Fashion and Textiles, and an undergraduate Certificate in Fashion Retailing.
Program highlights include internship opportunities at places such as The Getty Center and Alternative Apparel Los Angeles, participation in the Annual Senior Fashion Show, access to International Programs with more than 50 universities in 18 countries, and participation in the Fashion Association of Design Students.
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California College of the Arts, CA
California College of the Arts (CCA) was founded in 1907. It is home to nearly 2,000 students enrolled in more than 30 degree programs. Options for aspiring fashion designers include BFA degrees in Fashion Design, Jewelry/Metals Arts, and Textiles.
Program highlights include CCA’s internship program, which offers the opportunity to work at San Francisco Bay Area companies such as Levi Strauss & Co, Athleta, and TEA Collection, the opportunity to participate in the Annual Fashion Show, and unique study abroad opportunities in places such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Italy.
Many CCA graduates have found success in the world of design. Some have started their own businesses, while others have landed positions with major companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, J. Crew, Athleta, Forever 21, John Varvatos, Michael Kors, GUESS, Kate Spade, and many others.
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San Francisco State University, CA
San Francisco State University (SFSU) was founded in 1899 as San Francisco State Normal School. According to the school’s most recent enrollment report, SFSU is home to more than 30,000 students enrolled in more than 140 undergraduate and graduate programs, 17 credential programs, and 38 certificate programs across seven colleges.
The College of Health and Social Sciences is home to the Department of Family, Interior, Nutrition & Apparel (FINA) (formerly the Department of Consumer and Family Studies/Dietetics), which offers several programs for aspiring fashion designers.
Offerings include a BS in Apparel Design and Merchandising with an Emphasis in Apparel Design and an MA in Family & Consumer Sciences that can be developed around Apparel studies. Program highlights include internship opportunities, participation in the Annual Fashion Show, and study abroad opportunities in Italy, London, and Sydney.
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Oregon State University, OR
Oregon State University (OSU) was founded in 1868. OSU, located about an hour and a half South of Portland, is an international public research university that draws people from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. It is home to more than 30,000 students enrolled in over 200 undergraduate and 80-plus graduate degree programs across 11 academic colleges. The College of Business recently restructured the design major under the School of Design and Innovation Management.
The B.S. degree allows students to tailor their major to meet their career needs; students will choose one of three options available under the major: apparel design, interior design and design management. The apparel design major is a four year program with a redesigned curricular that has an emphasis on outdoor and performance wear with an integration of business principles. Graduates learn about the apparel industry that dominates the Pacific Northwest. All students follow the common design core program, designed to be completed in two years and provides a comprehensive foundation of design concepts. The major still requires admission to the OSU COB pro-school
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California Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA
California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Pomona) was founded in 1938. It is home to 23,717 students enrolled in hundreds of programs through eight academic colleges and the College of the Extended University. The Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture, Department of Apparel Merchandising and Management (AMM) offers several programs for aspiring fashion merchandisers. Offerings include a BS in AMM with an option in Apparel Production or Fashion Retailing. A Minor and a Certificate in AMM are also available.
AMM is one of 13 colleges that have been endorsed by the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). Other program highlights include hands-on lab activities, industry tradeshows and visits, industry internships, and field and study abroad opportunities. Students have completed internships at major companies such as BCBG, GUESS, Nordstrom, Bebe, Forever 21, Quicksilver, Lucky Brand jeans, Disney, Hurley, True Religion, and many others. New York, London, Paris, Milan, Rome, and Florence are just a few of the places past AMM students have studied.
AMM students also have the opportunity to participate in industry competitions, the Annual Fashion Show, AM2—the product line developed by Apparel Production students, and ApparelScapes—AMM’s retail microbusiness established in 2001. According to Cal Poly, ApparelScapes “retails AM2 and BLDG45 branded clothing through its own retail venues on the campus”.
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California State - Long Beach, CA
California State University Long Beach (CSULB) is the third largest member of the 23-school California State University (CSU) system. Established in 1949, CSULB is home to more than 37,000 students and offers more than 300 programs across eight colleges. The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) offers programs for aspiring fashion designers.
Within CHHS, the Department of Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) offers a BA in Family and Consumer Sciences with options to get a BA in Fashion Design or BA in Fashion Merchandising. One program highlight is the annual Spring Fashion Show. It is coordinated by the students themselves and features the designs created by the students. The show serves as a network for future career opportunities for students.
FCS also offers several opportunities for students to learn about the international fashion industry outside of the classroom through “study tours” in New York.
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University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI
The Fashion Design and Merchandising bachelors of science program at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa is located in Honolulu, at Hawaii’s flagship campus. Fashion designing in Hawaii is creatively influenced by Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander, and Western cultures and fashion entrepreneurs are supported by the Hawaii Fashion Innovators community. Design and merchandising courses are taken by all majors, and upper class students focus on fashion design or fashion merchandising with a community internship. In the senior capstone course, fashion design students are challenged to complete a design collection which launches their design career at the annual fashion show produced by merchandising students.
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Central Washington University, WA
Central Washington University (CWU) opened in 1891 with a goal to educate future elementary and junior high teachers. Today, the school offers more than 150 majors across eight university center locations in Edmonds, Everett, Des Moines, Steilacoom/Puyallup, Kent, Yakima, Moses Lake, and Wenatchee, Washington. CWU also offers more than 125 student associations, clubs and organizations, and 11 athletic teams.
Central Washington University houses five colleges including the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Business, the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Sciences, and the William O. Douglas Honors College. The College of Education and Professional Studies is home to the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, which offers a BS in Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising (ATM). A Minor in ATM is also on the menu.
Program highlights include participation in the Annual Wild & Free Fashion Show, field experiences, Study Abroad opportunities in Paris and Milan, and summer internships. After graduating from the ATM program, students are prepared for careers such as Buyer, Stylist, Trend Analyst, Operations Manager, Visual Merchandising, Merchandise Planner, Merchandiser, Fashion Advertising and Promotion, Showroom Manager, and many others.