2020 Most Affordable Online Schools for Fashion Degrees

These 9 schools make up the most affordable options for obtaining an online bachelor's degree in fashion, with all of their annual tuition rates priced at less than $29,000. Southern New Hampshire University Online, the #1 option, charges only $9,600 per year. Classes for SNHU's BS in Fashion Merchandising and Management include Global Sourcing and Apparel, History of Fashion and Costume, Merchandise Planning, Retail Sales Promotion, Strategic Fashion Management, Sustainability in Fashion, and Textiles and Color Theory. Ranked #2, Old Dominion University offers a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising at a tuition rate of $12,210 annually.
You can read more about our ranked schools below or see our Overall Most Affordable Colleges. View our methodology or learn more about OnlineU.
Rank | School | Annual Tuition |
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Southern New Hampshire University Online | $9,600 | |
Old Dominion University | $12,210 | |
Central Michigan University | $13,454 | |
Johnson & Wales University-Online | $14,850 | |
Lindenwood University | $14,850 | |
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | $16,058 | |
LIM College | $17,515 | |
Fashion Institute of Technology | $23,586 | |
Academy of Art University | $28,890 |
Southern New Hampshire University Online Manchester (NH) Southern New Hampshire University's (SNHU) online Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Management is a full-time program totaling 120 credits. Students will learn about fashion marketing, color and textile theory, consumer behavior, planning, and management, and will gain real-world experience through an internship in fashion merchandising. The curriculum also offers a business foundation with classes such as Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Business Law, and Marketing. Classes... are taught by industry experts. Coursework is delivered asynchronously through the Brightspace learning management system. Students have 24/7 access to the platform and can complete assignments at their convenience but must adhere to deadlines. Course content typically includes discussion boards, papers, projects, and presentations. SNHU has frozen tuition rates through 2021 and offers scholarships, grants, and tuition discounts for active-duty service members (and their spouses). Students can earn up to 12 credits by testing out of college courses, and transfer students can apply up to 90 credits toward their degree. Distance learners have access to a writing center, tutoring and career services, academic advising, an online library, and more. An admissions counselor will walk prospective students through the application process, which requires an online application, a transcript release form, and an attestation confirming high school graduation or GED. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for the school's six 8-week terms.
Example Classes: Global Sourcing and Apparel, History of Fashion and Costume, Merchandise Planning, Retail Sales Promotion, Strategic Fashion Management, Sustainability in Fashion, Textiles and Color Theory Online Bachelor's Degrees
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Old Dominion University Norfolk (VA) Old Dominion University's (ODU) online Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising requires 120 credit hours and focuses on the planning, procurement, and marketing aspects of the fashion industry. Students will research target markets, evaluate business decisions, and learn how to meet the demands of both retailers and consumers. Students will also complete an internship to apply what they've learned in a real-world environment. Classes are delivered online through Blackboard and include a mix of... synchronous and asynchronous learning. Coursework typically includes message boards, discussion rooms, assignments, and exams. Students can meet with their instructors during virtual office hours and have access to academic resources such as a student success center, free software, career and library services, and tutoring. Virginia residents receive a tuition discount, and active duty military students may also qualify for a reduced rate. Students can apply online for the fall, spring, or summer semester; each has an application deadline. An enrollment coach will walk prospective students through the application process and help students with previous college experience determine how many credits will transfer. ODU has also partnered with the Virginia Community College System (along with other select institutions) to offer guaranteed admission and make the transfer process as seamless as possible.
Example Classes: Fashion Consumer Behavior, Fashion Forecasting Market Trip, Fashion, Textiles, and Construction Analysis, The Foreign Fashion Market Trip, Visual Merchandising and Display, Web-Based Organization for Fashion Online Bachelor's Degrees
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Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant (MI) Central Michigan University (CMU) offers two 120-credit online fashion merchandising degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising & Design (no minor required) and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Fashion Merchandising & Design (requires a minor). Both offer concentrations in Product Development and Visual Merchandising and include hands-on projects and a final portfolio. Students use the latest technology to prepare them for careers in the industry. Some of the core courses include Apparel... Design Analysis, CAD for Apparel, and History of Western Dress. Students will access courses, participate in lectures, submit assignments, take quizzes, and communicate with instructors and peers through Blackboard, which is available 24/7. Most courses are offered asynchronously, but some may meet at specific times. In addition to weekly discussions, students may be required to participate in discussion boards, group assignments, and projects. Students can earn up to 60 prior learning credits for education earned through work, training, and life experience. CMU also offers a payment plan, which breaks semester charges into interest-free monthly payments. Resources for distance learners include the writing center, tutoring, and an Online Student Ally, who has been trained to provide support and guidance. Prospective students can apply online and will also need to submit official transcripts or GED test scores. A GPA of at least 2.0 is required.
Example Classes: 3D Printing and Fashion, Apparel Product Analysis, Dress and Culture, Experimental CAD, Fashion Retail Management, Textile Analysis Online Bachelor's Degrees
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Johnson & Wales University-Online Providence (RI)
Example Classes: Cases in Fashion and Retail, Merchandise Mathematics, Retail Executive Decision Making, Retail Industry Seminar, Textiles, The Business of Fashion Online Bachelor's Degrees
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Lindenwood University Saint Charles (MO)
Example Classes: Advertising and Promotional Strategy, Computer-Aided Design I: Apparel Design, Fashion Business and Entrepreneurship, Global Business and Society, History of Costume from 1900, Principles of Microeconomics Online Bachelor's Degrees
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Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Lakewood (CO)
Example Classes: Apparel, Couture Construction, Design Technologies, Sustainable Fashion, Textile Science, Textiles: Knits + High Tech Online Bachelor's Degrees
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LIM College New York (NY)
Example Classes: Digital Tools for Fashion Presentations, Fabric for Fashion, Fashion Merchandising Senior Capstone, Product Development and Merchandising, Retailing: Global and Omni, Sustainability and the Future of Fashion Online Bachelor's Degrees
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Fashion Institute of Technology New York (NY)
Example Classes: Global Marketing, Global Sourcing, Import/Export Regulations, International Business Transactions, Microeconomics Online Bachelor's Degrees
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Academy of Art University San Francisco (CA)
Example Classes: Color Concepts for Fashion, Digital Techniques for the Fashion Business, Drawing for Fashion, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Sewing Techniques, Fashion Trend Analysis Online Bachelor's Degrees
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