Pattern maker education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a pattern maker. Pattern makers usually study graphic design, business, or fine arts. 40% of pattern makers hold a bachelor's degree, and 37% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,468 real pattern maker resumes to see exactly what pattern maker education sections show.

The most common colleges for pattern makers are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

There are also many online pattern maker courses to help get the education required to be a pattern maker.

What education do you need to become a pattern maker?

What degree do you need to be a pattern maker?

The most common degree for pattern makers is bachelor's degree, with 40% of pattern makers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 37% and associate degree degree at 12%.

Bachelor's, 40%

Associate, 37%

High School Diploma, 12%

Diploma, 5%

Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a pattern maker?

You should major in graphic design to become a pattern maker. 53% of pattern makers major in graphic design. Other common majors for a pattern maker include business and fine arts.

Graphic Design, 53%

Business, 6%

Fine Arts, 5%

Apparel And Textiles, 5%

Other Majors, 31%

Most common colleges for pattern makers

Pattern makers often get their degrees at Fashion Institute of Technology, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-San Francisco, and FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Here are the most common colleges for pattern makers in the US based on their resumes.

Pattern maker common college	Percentages
Fashion Institute of Technology	38.24%
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-San Francisco	15.44%
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising	7.35%
Thomas Jefferson University and Philadelphia University	3.68%
Savannah College of Art and Design	3.68%

Show more common pattern maker colleges

Best majors for pattern makers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Graphic Design	53.3%
2	Business	5.6%
3	Fine Arts	5.3%
4	Apparel And Textiles	5.1%
5	Precision Metal Working	3.4%

Show more common pattern maker majors

Best colleges for pattern makers

The best colleges for pattern makers are Cornell University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

A pattern maker with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for pattern makers. 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 pattern makers.

1. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

2. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

3. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

4. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Enrollment

32,072

6. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

7. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$9,101

Enrollment

23,708

8. University of California - Davis

Davis, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,402

Enrollment

30,698

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

10. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

20 best online courses for pattern makers

Advertising disclosure

1. Java Design Patterns

4.4

(1,869)

Master the popular Core and Java EE Design Patterns in easy steps...

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

4.7

(1,322)

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

3. c# design patterns

4.5

(749)

This course teaches you Design pattern by using C#...

4. Qt 5 Design Patterns

4.5

(335)

Qt 5 Design Patterns with C++ For The Advanced Developer...

5. The Java Design Patterns Course

4.1

(1,068)

Understand the how and the why of the gang of four design patterns using Java...

6. Java Design Patterns & SOLID Design Principles

4.6

(4,424)

A master guide to gang of four design patterns & SOLID design principles using Java...

7. Design Patterns in Python

4.5

(3,254)

Discover the modern implementation of design patterns in Python...

8. Design Patterns in Java

4.3

(7,995)

Discover the modern implementation of design patterns in Java...

9. Design Patterns in JavaScript

4.3

(1,693)

Discover the modern implementation of design patterns in Java Script...

10. Design Patterns in Swift

4.5

(1,078)

Discover the modern implementation of design patterns with Swift...

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

4.8

(257)

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

12. Design Patterns in Go

4.6

(1,607)

Discover the modern implementation of design patterns in Go (golang)...

13. Java Design Patterns: The Complete Masterclass - 21 Patterns

4.8

(762)

Master Java Design Patterns and Write Robust and Extensible Software - MVC, Observable, Singleton, Facade, Builder.....

14. Design Patterns in Modern C++

4.6

(5,822)

Discover the modern implementation of design patterns with С++...

15. Creational Design Patterns in Modern C++

4.5

(276)

Learn creational design patterns in depth & their implementation in Modern C++...

16. Design Patterns in TypeScript

4.1

(251)

Implement and Learn All 23 Go F (Gang of Four) Design Patterns In Type Script...

17. Complete Kotlin Design Patterns masterclass 2023

4.6

(257)

Improve your coding skills by learning Software Design Patterns applied to Kotlin and Android development...

18. Experience Design Patterns In Java

4.5

(915)

Learn to write better software by understanding common problems and applying design patterns for a better solution...

19. Pattern Cutting & Making for Absolute Beginners - Fashion

4.3

(731)

The ultimate video series for learning basic pattern cutting/making. WE DON'T COVER BLOCK CREATION...

20. Learning C# Design Patterns

4.3

(593)

A Developer's Guide to Creational, Structural, Behavioural and MVC Patterns...

Top 10 most affordable universities for pattern makers

The most affordable schools for pattern makers are Fashion Institute of Technology, suny farmingdale, and florida state university.

If the best universities for pattern makers 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 pattern makers.

1. Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$5,740

Cost of attendance

17,864

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

4. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

5. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Cost of attendance

25,275

8. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

9. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Cost of attendance

25,228

10. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$9,101

Cost of attendance

23,600

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for pattern makers

The hardest universities for pattern makers to get into are Cornell University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for pattern makers 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 pattern makers 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. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

4. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

Admissions rate

39%

SAT average

1,367

5. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,390

6. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,465

7. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

Admissions rate

52%

SAT average

1,365

8. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

Admissions rate

49%

SAT average

1,347

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,309

10. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,336

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for pattern makers

The easiest schools for pattern makers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, university of the incarnate word, and lim college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a pattern maker 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 pattern makers.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

3. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

4. Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

67%

SAT average

987

5. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

8. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

9. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

10. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

Average pattern maker salary by education level

Pattern makers with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $82,348 annually. With a Associate degree, pattern makers earn a median annual income of $70,547 compared to $56,078 for pattern makers with an High School Diploma degree.

Pattern maker education level	Pattern maker salary
High School Diploma or Less	$56,078
Bachelor's Degree	$82,348
Some College/ Associate Degree	$70,547

Pattern maker education FAQs

What is the best college for Pattern Makers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common production and manufacturing questions.

Search for pattern maker jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs