With 215 Title IV degree-institutions, Ohio has one of the largest collections of post-secondary institutions in the country. Many of these schools are private and offer some of the regions top fashion programs. Each year, students, alums, education blogs, and others review these schools in order to publish a list of “Top” schools in the nation. The schools that make the cut have been evaluated based on factors ranging from cost to quality of student life. Just a few other considerations may include convenience, student clubs and organizations, recreation, student population, and job placement services.
Continue reading to find out which Ohio schools are top-tier, and what they have to offer. Please note that the top schools below are arranged by student population—largest to smallest.
Top Fashion School Programs Ohio – Major Cities
Columbus
Ohio State University
Student Population: 63,058 (2012)
Backdrop: City, 1,765-acre main campus, easy access to Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Athens, Akron, Ashland
Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion and Retail Studies, M.S. Fashion and Retail Studies, Ph.D. Fashion and Retail Studies
University of Cincinnati
Student Population: 41,970
Backdrop: Metropolis, 473-acre campus, easy access to Columbus, Akron, Indianapolis, Lexington-Fayette KY, Louisville KY
Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion Design, Master of Design with a focus in Product Development, Fashion Studies Minor, B.S. Interior Design
Akron
University of Akron
Student Population: 28,000+
Backdrop: City, 218-acre campus, easy access to Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Ashland, Youngstown, Pittsburgh
Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Merchandising with specialization tracks in Apparel, Fiber Arts, and Home Furnishings, M.A. Family and Consumer Sciences, Clothing, Textiles, and Interiors, B.A. Interior Design
Youngstown
Youngstown State University
Student Population: 15,194
Backdrop: Urban, 145-acre campus, easy access to Akron, Cleveland, Pittsburgh
Degrees Offered: B.S.A.S. Merchandising with a concentration in Fashion or Interiors; A.A.S. Accessories Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising Management, Interior Design, Jewelry Design, Manufacturing Management: Apparel Products and Related Industries, Textile Development or Marketing or Textile/Surface Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York (F.I.T)
Columbus
Columbus College of Art and Design
Student Population: 1,300+
Backdrop: Urban, 9-acre campus, easy access to Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Athens, Akron, Ashland
Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Fashion Design, B.F.A. Interior Design, B.F.A. Illustration, Minor Fashion Design, Minor Design History
Cincinnati
The Art Institute of Ohio, Cincinnati
Student Population: 512
Backdrop: Urban, small campus, easy access to Columbus, Akron, Indianapolis, Lexington-Fayette KY, Louisville KY
Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Marketing, A.A.S. Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Retailing Diploma, A.A.S. Interior Design, B.F.A. Interior Design
Top Fashion School Programs Ohio – Other Cities and Towns
Kent
Kent State University
Student Population: 43,000+
Backdrop: Town, 1,200-acre campus, easy access to Akron, Cleveland, Pittsburgh
Degrees Offered: B.A. in Fashion Design, B.S. Fashion Merchandising. Focus areas include Conceptual Design and Technical Design & Production
Athens
Ohio University
Student Population: 21,848
Backdrop: Town, 1,774-acre campus, easy access to Columbus, Bowling Green
Degrees Offered: B.S. Retail Merchandising, B.S. Fashion Product Development, M.S. Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising
Bowling Green
Bowling Green State University
Student Population: 20,000+
Backdrop: Town, 1,338-acre campus, easy access to Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Athens, Detroit, Fort Wayne IN, Windsor Canada
Degrees Offered: B.S. Apparel Merchandising & Product Development with a Marketing Option or enrollment in the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), which leads to an A.A.S. in Textile Development and Marketing or Advertising and Communications.
Ashland
Ashland University
Student Population: Nearly 6,000
Backdrop: Town, 135-acre campus, easy access to Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Detroit, Windsor Canada
Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion Merchandising
Pepper Pike
Ursuline College
Student Population: 1,500
Backdrop: City, 110-acre campus, easy access to Cleveland, Akron, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Windsor, Canada
Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Design, B.A. Fashion Merchandising, A.A.S. Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, NY (F.I.T), A.A.S Fashion Merchandising from F.I.T
Lakewood
Virginia Marti College of Art and Design
Student Population: 262
Backdrop: City, small campus, easy access to Cleveland, Akron, Detroit, Toledo, Windsor Canada
Degrees Offered: A.A.B. Fashion Design, A.A.B. Fashion Merchandising, A.A.B. Interior Design, Millinery Certificate
More Programs to Consider:
- San Francisco and Online
Sources
Peterson’s
Princeton Review
U.S. News & World Report College Rankings
