What Are Top Schools for an Associate's Degree in Fashion Marketing & Merchandising?
An associate's degree program in fashion marketing or fashion merchandising can teach you to analyze fashion trends, create fashion marketing strategies, design advertising campaigns and plan retail clothing displays. The following are three of the top U.S. schools for an associate's degree in fashion marketing and merchandising.
What Should I Look for in a Top Fashion Marketing and Merchandising School?
If you aspire to become a fashion industry professional, an associate degree in fashion marketing or fashion merchandising may be right for you. Students should look into programs with a history of successful graduates, and programs with a range of specializations.
Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, NY
Located in New York City, the nation's top fashion venue, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Fashion Merchandising Management, which can be completed in one or two years. The program is part of FIT's Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology, and it's the oldest degree program in the fashion merchandising field in the nation.
Classes you can expect to take include fashion business, fashion marketing, advertising and promotions, product development, retail management and merchandising math. An international fashion merchandising management option, based in New York and Florence, Italy, also is available. Field trips to fashionable clothing stores, internships, industry workshops and study abroad options to cities like Paris and London offer students real experience and contacts.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that FIT awarded 714 associate's degrees in fashion merchandising in the 2017-2018 school year.
- Associate of Applied Science in Fashion Merchandising Management
Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS
Johnson County Community College (JCCC) has an AAS in Fashion Merchandising program. Students complete coursework in fashion illustrating, apparel merchandising, computer-aided design, clothing construction and textiles, retail management, marketing and consumer product evaluation. The program also offers various seminars and internships. JCCC awarded 3 associate's degrees in fashion merchandising in the 2017-2018 academic year, per NCES.
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Fashion Merchandising
Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, IA
Ellsworth's AAS in Apparel Merchandising program is enhanced with study tours and paid internships. Coursework consists of a blend of business courses and classes on fashion design and clothing materials and construction. Examples of required courses include clothing selecting, apparel textiles, fashion marketing, advertising and selling.
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Apparel Merchandising
Other Schools with Associate Degree Programs in Fashion Merchandising or Marketing
| College/University | Institution Type | Location | Estimated Undergrad In-State Tuition* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fisher College | 2-year, Private | Boston, MA | $31,000 |
| El Centro College | 2-year, Public | Dallas, TX | $3,000 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | 2-year, Public | Los Angeles, CA | $1,000 |
| SUNY Westchester Community College | 2-year, Public | Valhalla, NY | $5,000 |
| Mesa Community College | 2-year, Public | Mesa, AZ | $2,000 |
| University of Bridgeport | 4-year, Private | Bridgeport, CT | $33,000 |
| College of DuPage | 2-year, Public | Glen Ellyn, IL | $10,000 |
| University of the District of Columbia | 4-year, Public | Washington, DC | $6,000 |
| Grand Rapids Community College | 2-year, Public | Grand Rapids, MI | $8,000 |
*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education