Based the most recent report by the Institute for Education Sciences (IES/2013), Illinois is home to 181 Title IV degree-granting universities. A number of these schools rank high among America’s Best Colleges, and many offer some of the nation’s finest fashion programs. Some of the best fashion school programs in Illinois can be found in the state’s largest city—Chicago. Just a few of the best schools for fashion are the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Columbia College, and The Illinois Institute of Art.
To determine which fashion schools are among the best, college ranking agencies typically evaluate factors such as faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources, student selectivity, peer assessment, and number of program offerings. Each factor is assigned a score, which helps calculate the final score for each school. The schools listed below received some of the highest scores in all categories.
Continue reading to find out which Illinois fashion schools are the best of the best and what they have to offer.
Top Fashion School Programs Illinois – Chicago
Columbia College Chicago - Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Design, B.F.A. Fashion Design, B.A. Fashion Business, B.A. Fashion Studies
DePaul University - Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Costume Design (students focus on Fashion, Drawing, Costume Technology, Art), B.F.A. Costume Technology
School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Fashion Design, B.F.A. Fiber and Material Studies, Master of Design in Fashion, Body and Garment, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Fashion Body and Garment
The Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago – Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Fashion Design, B.A. Fashion Marketing & Management, B.F.A. Interior Design, B.F.A. Illustration & Design, A.A.S. Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Retailing Diploma
Top Fashion School Programs Illinois – Other Cities and Towns
Bourbonnais
Olivet Nazarene University – Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion Merchandising, B.S. Interior Design, Fashion Merchandising Minor, Interior Design Minor
Carbondale
Southern Illinois University - Degrees Offered:
B.S. Fashion Design and Merchandising with specializations in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Stylist, B.S. Interior Design
DeKalb
Northern Illinois University – Degrees Offered: B.S. Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising, M.S. Apparel Studies, Minor Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising
Glen Ellyn
College of DuPage – Degrees Offered:
A.A.S Fashion Design, A.A.S. Fashion Merchandising, A.A.S Fashion Apparel Production, Fashion Design Certificate, Fashion Merchandising Certificate, Fashion Apparel Production Certificate, Fashion Entrepreneurial Certificate
Normal
Illinois State University – Degrees Offered: B.S. Apparel Design/Product Development, B.S. Merchandising, A.A.S Apparel Design/Product Development, A.A.S. Merchandising
Palatine
Harper College – Degrees Offered: A.A.S Fashion Design, A.A.S. Fashion Merchandising, Advanced Patternmaking Certificate, Apparel Construction Certificate, Textiles Certificate
River Forest
Dominican University - Degrees Offered: Bachelor's Apparel Design with concentrations in Fashion Development, Surface Design, and Dress and Textile Studies, Bachelor's Apparel Merchandising, Minor Apparel Merchandising
Schaumburg
The Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg – Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Fashion Design, B.A. Fashion Marketing & Management, A.A.S. Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Retailing Diploma, B.F.A. Illustration & Design
More Programs to Consider:
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