Each day we receive emails from aspiring fashion designers asking us for advice as to which fashion design schools are the “best” in the US, a given state, or in a particular area of the country.  As such advice is difficult to provide on an individual basis, we have instead created this list of the Top 75 Fashion Design School Programs in the US.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale: Fashion Design/Fashion Merchandising.
Carbondale, Illinois
Fashion Design & Merchandising, School of Architecture

The fashion program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is design to give prospective fashion professionals an introductory education in design and merchandising. The fashion curriculum offers specializations in the areas of design and merchandising, both of which give students an opportunity to gain marketable skills and knowledge in an interactive environment. These focus areas enrich a core curriculum designed to provide students with a comprehensive academic background for future success in the fashion industry. Since the fashion design and merchandising program is fast paced with frequent assignments and deadlines, students should cultivate effective management skills, as they will work on multiple projects simultaneously.

Western Illinois University: Fashion Merchandising.
Macomb, Illinois
Department of Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising & Hospitality

The fashion merchandising program at Western Illinois University prepares students for professional work in the fashion merchandising industry, where the school holds there more job opportunities than in fashion design. To prepare for careers in merchandising, students take a variety of courses including introduction to fashion design, along with other subjects such as social/psych aspects of apparel, history of costume, visual merchandising, fashion global issues, and buying.

International Academy of Design and Technology—Schaumburg: Fashion Design.
Schaumburg, Illinois
Fashion Design Department

In addition to training students in the basics of design and construction, the fashion department at International Academy of Design and Technology—Shaumburg provides individuals with the opportunity to gain a broader education by taking courses in business, complex design and construction with specialty fabrics, manufacturing, quality assurance, entrepreneurship, and original design collections. Fashion majors gain marketable experience in computer-generated design, computer generated pattern drafting, and product data management using up to date software programs. Students may combine several courses of study to create a customized curriculum that best suits their interests.

Illinois State University: Apparel Design/ Apparel Merchandising.
Normal, Illinois
Family and Consumer Sciences

The apparel design and merchandising curriculum at Illinois State University prepares students for professional work in several sectors of the global textile, apparel, and merchandising fields, including fashion trend analysis, production development, promotion, distribution, wholesale, and retail. Fashion majors may broaden their understanding of apparel, design, and merchandising by attending fashion tours internationally in Florence, London, and Paris or off-campus in the US in New York and Los Angeles.

Columbia College Chicago: Fashion Design/ Fashion Retail Management.
Chicago, Illinois
Fashion Studies & Fashion Retail Management

The fashion design and fashion retail management programs at Columbia College Chicago incorporate several aspects of the fashion field, including fashion photography, fashion journalism, fashion entrepreneurship, fashion design, and fashion retail management. Fashion majors gain a liberal arts education in a flexible environment that supports student collaboration and learning being experience.