Fashion Design Degree in Chicago, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Fashion Design degree analysis for Chicago, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.9 yrs
in Chicago
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Fashion Design in Chicago, IL Overview
Chicago is one of Illinois's top college towns, with 98 institutions and a student population of 177,322. Public tuition averages $14,816/year here — near the national average for public universities. Fashion Design enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Pattern Making and Textile Knowledge. The adjusted starting salary in Chicago is approximately $54,500.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
98
Public Tuition
$14,816/yr
Private Tuition
$62,666/yr
Room & Board
$9,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,009/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Fashion Design Salary in Chicago (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chicago's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Fashion Design salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Chicago adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Fashion Design ROI Calculator for Chicago
Estimate your return on investment for a Fashion Design degree using local Chicago tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,816 | Private avg: $62,666
Chicago avg aid: $16,009/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,732
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,350
vs HS diploma in Chicago
ROI Payback Period
5.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chicago
$176,768
Lifetime earnings premium ($272,500) minus total education cost ($95,732)
Student Loan Payoff for Fashion Design in Chicago
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chicago for Fashion Design
University of Chicago
private
$62,940/yr
$251,760 total
Northwestern University
private
$62,391/yr
$249,564 total
University of Illinois at Chicago
public
$14,816/yr
$59,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
City Colleges of Chicago
$3,918/yr
Top Employers for Fashion Design in Chicago
Chicago offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Fashion Design graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chicago Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Fashion Design Job Titles
Fashion Design in Nearby Illinois Cities
Aurora, IL
$46K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Chicago
UX Design
$55K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$63K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$55K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$55K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$55K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$55K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts
$55K starting · 9 yr ROI
Fashion Design Degree in Chicago — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Fashion Design ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Chicago.