Fashion Design Degree in Wilmington, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Fashion Design degree analysis for Wilmington, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Wilmington
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Fashion Design in Wilmington, NC Overview
While Wilmington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Fashion Design students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $9,779/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Fashion Design enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Pattern Making and Textile Knowledge. The adjusted starting salary in Wilmington is approximately $47,500.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$7,287/yr
Private Tuition
$34,393/yr
Room & Board
$9,779/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,831/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Fashion Design Salary in Wilmington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wilmington's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Fashion Design salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $80,000 senior level.Wilmington adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Fashion Design ROI Calculator for Wilmington
Estimate your return on investment for a Fashion Design degree using local Wilmington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,287 | Private avg: $34,393
Wilmington avg aid: $13,831/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$68,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,250
vs HS diploma in Wilmington
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wilmington
$169,236
Lifetime earnings premium ($237,500) minus total education cost ($68,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Fashion Design in Wilmington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wilmington for Fashion Design
University of North Carolina Wilmington
public
$7,287/yr
$29,148 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Fear Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Fashion Design in Wilmington
Wilmington offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Fashion Design graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wilmington Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Fashion Design Job Titles
Fashion Design in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$46K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Wilmington
UX Design
$48K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$55K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$48K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$48K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$48K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts
$48K starting · 9 yr ROI
Fashion Design Degree in Wilmington — 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 Wilmington.