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Wardrobe stylist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a wardrobe stylist. Wardrobe stylists usually study specialized sales and merchandising, graphic design, or business. 66% of wardrobe stylists hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,172 real wardrobe stylist resumes to see exactly what wardrobe stylist education sections show.
The most common colleges for wardrobe stylists are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
There are also many online wardrobe stylist courses to help get the education required to be a wardrobe stylist.
What education do you need to become a wardrobe stylist?
What degree do you need to be a wardrobe stylist?
- Bachelor's, 66%
- Associate, 22%
- High School Diploma, 7%
- Master's, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a wardrobe stylist?
- Graphic Design, 18%
- Business, 11%
- Marketing, 8%
- Other Majors, 38%
Most common colleges for wardrobe stylists
| Wardrobe stylist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 20.56% |
| Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-San Francisco | 18.33% |
| FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising | 10.00% |
| Clark Atlanta University | 4.44% |
| Columbia College Chicago | 3.89% |
Best majors for wardrobe stylists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specialized Sales And Merchandising | 25.4% |
| 2 | Graphic Design | 18.5% |
| 3 | Business | 10.7% |
| 4 | Marketing | 7.6% |
| 5 | Communication | 7.6% |
Best colleges for wardrobe stylists
The best colleges for wardrobe stylists are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A wardrobe 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 wardrobe 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 wardrobe 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 wardrobe stylists
Advertising disclosure
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In this specialization, you will analyze the fashion business and how it must evolve into a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable manifestation of itself. You’ll explore the “slow fashion” movement, the historical underpinnings of the current fashion system, and imperatives for a more holistic, sustainable future. You’ll look at the design process from the perspective of analytical and statistical trend forecasting and how to bring new strategies and technologies into your design approach, all...
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Designing a Fashion Line. A step-by-step Comprehensive Guide for Mastering Fashion Designing: from Inspiration to Market...
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13. Become a fashion buyer - learn the essentials
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14. Fabrics for Fashion Design: Essential Learning for Designers
Fundamental Categories, Characteristics, Properties of Fabric: Develop a Fashion Collection Using Fabric As Inspiration...
15. 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...
16. Be Your Own Stylist Feel Confident & Love Your Style
Learn the tips of a personal stylist: how to style your body, shop with success, and enjoy getting dressed!...
17. 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...
18. Fashion Blogging: Starting a Fashion Blog
Fashion blogging made simple - wordpress, photography, blog name, brand collaborations...
19. Fashion Design: Sketch in 3D using Marvelous Designer
Turn your Fashion Drawing into a 3D Garment...
20. Customer Service
How to Approach New Customers and Maintain Existing Ones...
Top 10 most affordable universities for wardrobe stylists
The most affordable schools for wardrobe stylists are University of Florida, florida state university, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for wardrobe 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 wardrobe 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 wardrobe stylists
The hardest universities for wardrobe stylists to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for wardrobe 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 wardrobe 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 wardrobe stylists
The easiest schools for wardrobe 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 wardrobe 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 wardrobe 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 wardrobe stylist salary by education level
| Wardrobe stylist education level | Wardrobe stylist salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $36,227 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $48,280 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $48,996 |
Wardrobe stylist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025