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Fashion stylist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a fashion stylist. Fashion stylists usually study graphic design, specialized sales and merchandising, or business. 64% of fashion stylists hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,952 real fashion stylist resumes to see exactly what fashion stylist education sections show.
The most common colleges for fashion stylists are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
There are also many online fashion stylist courses to help get the education required to be a fashion stylist.
What education do you need to become a fashion stylist?
What degree do you need to be a fashion stylist?
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Associate, 22%
- High School Diploma, 7%
- Master's, 4%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a fashion stylist?
- Graphic Design, 25%
- Business, 10%
- Marketing, 8%
- Other Majors, 36%
Most common colleges for fashion stylists
| Fashion stylist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 31.92% |
| Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-San Francisco | 10.77% |
| FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising | 6.15% |
| Academy of Art University | 5.77% |
| The New School | 4.23% |
Best majors for fashion stylists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic Design | 25.1% |
| 2 | Specialized Sales And Merchandising | 21.1% |
| 3 | Business | 9.7% |
| 4 | Marketing | 7.8% |
| 5 | Communication | 7.1% |
Best colleges for fashion stylists
The best colleges for fashion stylists are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A fashion stylist 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 stylists. 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 stylists.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
5. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Enrollment
32,072
9. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
10. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
20 best online courses for fashion stylists
Advertising disclosure
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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...
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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...
3. Fashion 101 Design & Styling- Textures, Shaping, & More!
Learn the Fundamentals of Fashion Design & Styling Including: Textures, Patterns, Body Types, & More!...
4. How To Dress Like A Fashion Icon New Style, New You!
Be your own PERSONAL STYLIST, Master your IMAGE boost your CONFIDENCE! Learn FASHION STYLING from this BESTSELLER course...
5. Intro to Fashion Illustration -Beginners- Fashion Design
Covering a range of drawing and design techniques, various materials, and tools to create finished fashion illustration!...
6. Fashion Blogging: Starting a Fashion Blog
Fashion blogging made simple - wordpress, photography, blog name, brand collaborations...
7. Draping for Fashion Design - Creative Techniques Made Simple
Basic Draping Skills and Techniques to Develop Your Fashion Design Patterns. 1-Dart, 2-Dart Bodice. Skirt. Circle Skirt...
8. Pattern Making for Fashion Design -PART 1- Essential Skills!
How to Use Pattern Making Principals and Techniques to Draft and Manipulate Patterns to Create Your Fashion Design Ideas...
9. Basic Fashion Illustration
From a 4-month course to a 2-hour video. Learn the simple techniques of how to draw fashion figures and postures...
10. Sketching for Fashion Design ~ Beginner Course for Designers
Learn Step-by-Step Professional Fashion Drawing Techniques. Using Croquis, Plumb Lines, Body Movement, Shading, Folds et...
11. How To Create A Fashion Collection and Launch Your Own Brand
Designing a Fashion Line. A step-by-step Comprehensive Guide for Mastering Fashion Designing: from Inspiration to Market...
12. Become a fashion buyer - learn the essentials
Learn the essential tasks of a fashion buyer and skills required to secure your first role!...
13. Pattern Making for Fashion Design - PART 2 (Yokes, Stripes,)
Pattern Making, Draping, Design Elements, Together as Techniques to Create New Designs: Yokes, Stripes, Princess Seams...
14. Fashion Marketing Strategy: How To Promote & Sell Your Brand
Essential Strategies for Brand Management for Success in Fashion Design. Social Commerce is the New Storefront...
15. Fabrics for Fashion Design: Essential Learning for Designers
Fundamental Categories, Characteristics, Properties of Fabric: Develop a Fashion Collection Using Fabric As Inspiration...
16. Learn to draw fashion with Adobe Illustrator CC - Beginners
Illustrator training specifically tailored for fashion designers...
17. Learn to draw fashion with Adobe Illustrator CC Intermediate
Illustrator training specifically tailored for fashion designers...
18. Pattern Cutting & Making for Absolute Beginners - Fashion
The ultimate video series for learning basic pattern cutting/making. WE DON'T COVER BLOCK CREATION...
19. Fashion Design: Sketch in 3D using Marvelous Designer
Turn your Fashion Drawing into a 3D Garment...
20. Dress to Kill: A Men's Primer on Style and Fashion
How to be the Best Dressed Man in the Room...
Top 10 most affordable universities for fashion stylists
The most affordable schools for fashion stylists are University of Florida, florida state university, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for fashion stylists 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 stylists.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
5. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Cost of attendance
17,864
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. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
10. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for fashion stylists
The hardest universities for fashion stylists to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for fashion stylists 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 stylists 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
9. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
Admissions rate
18%
SAT average
1,502
10. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for fashion stylists
The easiest schools for fashion stylists to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur 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 stylist 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 stylists.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
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 stylist salary by education level
| Fashion stylist education level | Fashion stylist salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,684 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $55,400 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $56,078 |
Fashion stylist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025