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Jewelry designer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a jewelry designer. Jewelry designers usually study fine arts, graphic design, or business. 60% of jewelry designers hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,816 real jewelry designer resumes to see exactly what jewelry designer education sections show.
The most common colleges for jewelry designers are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
There are also many online jewelry designer courses to help get the education required to be a jewelry designer.
There are certain jewelry designer certifications that you should consider. These jewelry designer certifications include Certified Digital Designer (CDD) and Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ).
What education do you need to become a jewelry designer?
What degree do you need to be a jewelry designer?
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Associate, 19%
- Master's, 9%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a jewelry designer?
- Fine Arts, 27%
- Graphic Design, 19%
- Business, 12%
- Psychology, 5%
- Other Majors, 37%
Most common colleges for jewelry designers
| Jewelry designer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 19.23% |
| Rhode Island School of Design | 10.44% |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 9.89% |
| The New School | 4.95% |
| Temple University | 4.95% |
Best majors for jewelry designers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Arts | 27.4% |
| 2 | Graphic Design | 19.0% |
| 3 | Business | 12.2% |
| 4 | Psychology | 4.8% |
| 5 | Marketing | 4.6% |
Best colleges for jewelry designers
The best colleges for jewelry designers are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.
A jewelry designer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for jewelry designers. 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 jewelry designers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,230
Enrollment
12,161
20 best online courses for jewelry designers
Advertising disclosure
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3. UX Designer
Design impactful user experiences for products in today’s digital world. Build a portfolio that showcases your ability to transform user research to high-fidelity interactive designs...
4. Product Design
Learn the steps you need to turn an idea into reality. By the end of this course you’ll learn how to bring an idea from concept to hand off for development and onto creation of a prototype...
5. Fashion as Design
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. Jewelry Making: Wire Wrapping for Beginners
Learn to make beautiful handmade wire and gemstone jewellery to wear, give, or sell!...
7. How To Start A Jewelry Business (Real Gold And Diamonds)
How to start a real jewelry business and create financial freedom for yourself...
8. Visual Design (Part Time)
Gain the vocabulary and tools to tackle diverse design challenges on the job. Kickstart your portfolio and create beautiful, responsive designs for the web. This course is offered in person and live online, in a remote classroom setting...
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Are you interested in UX Design, but have no prior experience or an idea of where to start? You’ve come to the right place! In this two-hour livestream, we’ll explore the decision-making process that separates a good user experience from a great one, and learn some tools that you can implement in your own UX process today. All in real time, taught by an industry professional. Come learn the basics and gain the skills you need to begin your UX Design journey!...
10. Jewelry Making For Beginners: Beading Techniques & Stitches
Learn to make beautiful beaded jewellery using basic beading techniques of wire wrapping, bead stringing and beadweaving...
11. Jewelry Making For Beginners: Art Resin Pendant and Earrings
Make your own fashionable jewelry using tinted Resin to create a one of a kind Pendant and earring set...
12. Professional Pearl and Bead Stringing
Everything you need to know to create professionally made jewelry using pearl and bead stringing techniques...
13. Mastering Small Product & Jewelry Photography
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14. Introduction to Jewellery CAD with Rhino 3D
Learn jewelry CAD design, with this in-depth, practical, easy-to-follow course!...
15. 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...
16. 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...
17. 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...
18. Fabrics for Fashion Design: Essential Learning for Designers
Fundamental Categories, Characteristics, Properties of Fabric: Develop a Fashion Collection Using Fabric As Inspiration...
19. Intro to Fashion Illustration -Beginners- Fashion Design
Covering a range of drawing and design techniques, various materials, and tools to create finished fashion illustration!...
20. 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...
Top 10 most affordable universities for jewelry designers
The most affordable schools for jewelry designers are University of Florida, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for jewelry designers 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 jewelry designers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Cost of attendance
17,864
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
8. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
10. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for jewelry designers
The hardest universities for jewelry designers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for jewelry designers 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 jewelry designers 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
8. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
10. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for jewelry designers
The easiest schools for jewelry designers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, wayland baptist university, and mount saint mary's university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a jewelry designer 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 jewelry designers.
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. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
6. Marymount University
Arlington, VA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,065
7. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
8. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
9. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
10. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
Average jewelry designer salary by education level
| Jewelry designer education level | Jewelry designer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $58,741 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $53,512 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $47,681 |
Jewelry designer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025