Fashion Design Schools in Illinois

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What to Know About Illinois Fashion Design Programs…

Most Illinois fashion schools are located near or in Chicago, and they accept approximately 64% of applicants. Tuition at an Illinois fashion design college averages $18,061, but you are encouraged to use scholarships, grants and student loans to help pay for school. Classes include both lectures and studio work. Some of the smaller colleges and fashion institutes offer certificate programs, and some larger schools offer Master’s degree in fashion-related fields.

At Columbia College in Chicago, you can earn either a B.A. in Fashion and Apparel Design, or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.). The faculty in the Columbia College fashion and apparel design programs is actively practicing industry professionals so they can share their real-world experiences with you in the classroom. As a student at Columbia College, you would choose your internship as either a one-week stay in New York City or a four-week long summer internship in Florence, Italy.

If you are interested in attending the Dominican University to major in design or merchandising you may also consider earning a dual degree. Minors in both fields are available, too.

At Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, you can earn a BS in Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising. You could also go on to earn an MS with a specialization in Apparel Studies. On campus, NIU students can join the Fashion Industries Organization. Students take special trips to get an inside look at the fashion industry as part of their degree completion.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) is the only public university in Illinois to offer 4-year degrees in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, and Fashion Stylist. Many specialized classes are available to you in addition to foundation classes covering pattern making, clothing construction and fashion illustration. The school has a state-of-the-art computer design lab, a historical garment collection, and a significant resource library.

Working as a Fashion Designer in Illinois

In Illinois, you can expect to earn anywhere from $26,000 per year to over $100,000 per year in the fashion design industry, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The annual average salary for fashion designers in the state is $93.850. Illinois has the fifth highest employment level for fashion designers and is the top paying state for them in the United States.