Fashion Design Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Design and creation of clothing, accessories, and footwear.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$62K
salary
ROI Payback
6.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
4.5%
rate
Fashion Design Overview
Design and creation of clothing, accessories, and footwear.
Category
Arts & Design
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
58%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
28%
Lifetime Premium
$250K
Female Graduates
85%
Fashion Design Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,900
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,900
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$231,100
Lifetime earnings premium ($250,000) minus net degree cost ($18,900)
Fashion Design Salary Progression
Common Fashion Design Careers
Fashion Designer
Technical Designer
Merchandise Planner
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Fashion Design
#1
Parsons
#2
FIT
#3
RISD
#4
Central Saint Martins
#5
Pratt
Related Majors
Fashion Design Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Fashion Design Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for fashion design programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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