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Fashion show director education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a fashion show director. Fashion show directors usually study graphic design, business, or communication. 72% of fashion show directors hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 456 real fashion show director resumes to see exactly what fashion show director education sections show.

The most common colleges for fashion show directors are the University of Florida and the University of Florida.

There are also many online fashion show director courses to help get the education required to be a fashion show director.

What education do you need to become a fashion show director?

What degree do you need to be a fashion show director?

The most common degree for fashion show directors is bachelor's degree, with 72% of fashion show directors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 11% and associate degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 72%
  • Associate, 11%
  • Master's, 10%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a fashion show director?

You should major in graphic design to become a fashion show director. 15% of fashion show directors major in graphic design. Other common majors for a fashion show director include business and communication.

Most common colleges for fashion show directors

Fashion show directors often get their degrees at University of Florida, The New School, and University of North Texas. Here are the most common colleges for fashion show directors in the US based on their resumes.
Fashion show director common collegePercentages
University of Florida8.16%
The New School6.12%
University of North Texas6.12%
Culinary Institute of America6.12%
University of New Hampshire6.12%

Best majors for fashion show directors

Best colleges for fashion show directors

The best colleges for fashion show directors are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A fashion show director with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for fashion show directors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become fashion show directors.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

7. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

9. University of Maryland - Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$11,778

Enrollment

11,156

10. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

20 best online courses for fashion show directors

Advertising disclosure

1. Digital Fashion Innovation

coursera

Digital Fashion Innovation is a collaboration between Parsons School of Design at The New School and The Digital Fashion Group Academy.\n\nIn this specialization, we examine the revolution of the fashion industry as it has set course towards a more digital and sustainable future. Through three different courses, you will not only look creatively at the ways technology can combat industry-wide challenges in fashion, but actively explore avenues to join the effort to create a more ethical fashion...

2. Digital Fashion Mindset

coursera

Digital Fashion Mindset is a collaboration between Parsons School of Design at The New School and The Digital Fashion Group Academy. This course teaches you to recognize the significance of the digital revolution in historical and present-day contexts and how it relates to the fashion industry’s ability to use technology creatively and collaboratively. Digital Fashion Mindset teaches you to recognize the significance of the digital revolution in historical and present-day contexts and how it...

3. Intro to Fashion Illustration -Beginners- Fashion Design

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4.7
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Covering a range of drawing and design techniques, various materials, and tools to create finished fashion illustration!...

4. Fashion Blogging: Starting a Fashion Blog

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4
(306)

Fashion blogging made simple - wordpress, photography, blog name, brand collaborations...

5. Fashion as Design

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Among all objects of design, our clothes are the most universal and intimate. Like other kinds of design, fashion thrives on productive tensions between form and function, automation and craftsmanship, standardization and customization, universality and self-expression, and pragmatism and utopian vision. It exists in the service of others, and it can have profound consequences—social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental. Fashion as Design focuses on a selection of more than 70...

6. Become a fashion buyer - learn the essentials

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4.6
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Learn the essential tasks of a fashion buyer and skills required to secure your first role!...

7. Basic Fashion Illustration

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4.2
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From a 4-month course to a 2-hour video. Learn the simple techniques of how to draw fashion figures and postures...

8. Learn to draw fashion with Adobe Illustrator CC Intermediate

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4.8
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Illustrator training specifically tailored for fashion designers...

9. Fashion Marketing Strategy: How To Promote & Sell Your Brand

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4.5
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Essential Strategies for Brand Management for Success in Fashion Design. Social Commerce is the New Storefront...

10. Fashion 101 Design & Styling- Textures, Shaping, & More!

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Learn the Fundamentals of Fashion Design & Styling Including: Textures, Patterns, Body Types, & More!...

11. Learn to draw fashion with Adobe Illustrator CC - Beginners

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4.6
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Illustrator training specifically tailored for fashion designers...

12. Draping for Fashion Design - Creative Techniques Made Simple

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4.8
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Basic Draping Skills and Techniques to Develop Your Fashion Design Patterns. 1-Dart, 2-Dart Bodice. Skirt. Circle Skirt...

13. Sketching for Fashion Design ~ Beginner Course for Designers

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4.3
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Learn Step-by-Step Professional Fashion Drawing Techniques. Using Croquis, Plumb Lines, Body Movement, Shading, Folds et...

14. Fabrics for Fashion Design: Essential Learning for Designers

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4.6
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Fundamental Categories, Characteristics, Properties of Fabric: Develop a Fashion Collection Using Fabric As Inspiration...

15. How To Create A Fashion Collection and Launch Your Own Brand

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4.5
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Designing a Fashion Line. A step-by-step Comprehensive Guide for Mastering Fashion Designing: from Inspiration to Market...

16. Pattern Making for Fashion Design -PART 1- Essential Skills!

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4.7
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How to Use Pattern Making Principals and Techniques to Draft and Manipulate Patterns to Create Your Fashion Design Ideas...

17. Fashion Design: Sketch in 3D using Marvelous Designer

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4
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Turn your Fashion Drawing into a 3D Garment...

18. Pattern Making for Fashion Design - PART 2 (Yokes, Stripes,)

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Pattern Making, Draping, Design Elements, Together as Techniques to Create New Designs: Yokes, Stripes, Princess Seams...

19. Data Analytics and Applications in the Fashion Industry

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4.3
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Learn Data Analytics and Business Analysis for the Fashion Industry. Build a Smart and Data-driven Fashion Company!...

20. How To Dress Like A Fashion Icon New Style, New You!

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Be your own PERSONAL STYLIST, Master your IMAGE boost your CONFIDENCE! Learn FASHION STYLING from this BESTSELLER course...

Top 10 most affordable universities for fashion show directors

The most affordable schools for fashion show directors are SUNY Farmingdale, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for fashion show directors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for fashion show directors.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

10. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for fashion show directors

The hardest universities for fashion show directors to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for fashion show directors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for fashion show directors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

10. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for fashion show directors

The easiest schools for fashion show directors to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, wayland baptist university, and university of the incarnate word.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a fashion show director without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for fashion show directors.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

3. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

4. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

5. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

6. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

7. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

8. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

9. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

10. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

Average fashion show director salary by education level

Fashion show directors with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $67,369 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, fashion show directors earn a median annual income of $66,231 compared to $47,502 for fashion show directors with an High School Diploma degree.
Fashion show director education levelFashion show director salary
High School Diploma or Less$47,502
Bachelor's Degree$66,231
Some College/ Associate Degree$67,369

Fashion show director education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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