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11 Best Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree Colleges

Written by College Cliffs Team At CollegeCliffs.com, our team, comprising seasoned educators and counselors, is committed to supporting students on their journey through graduate studies. Our advisors, holding advanced degrees in diverse fields, provide tailored guidance, current program details, and pragmatic tips on navigating application procedures.

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: March 21, 2024, Reading time: 21 minutes

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Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

Ever dream of making it big in the fashion industry?

While you can get a career in the industry without a degree, it still is wise to go and obtain one!

Many who are starting to work in the fashion industry sometimes find themselves going back to school to earn a bachelor’s degree and substantiate their professional qualifications in the field!

Thankfully, you can find several accelerated programs to help your schooling be painless and efficient, especially if you are already a working professional. 

Programs in fashion design cover several things, but the goal is to teach you all the practical skills necessary to understand the industry’s in-depth background.

You will learn skills like textile, fashion, computer-based design, patterns, and how to achieve a signature look.

Plus, you will also learn a lot on the business side, like how you can develop your brand, marketing, consumer trends, and behavior, how to pull off and coordinate a successful runway show, or how you can work not only with supply chains but with the international fashion market as well.

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Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

The fashion industry is definitely more than just glitz and glamor! Beyond the surface, this industry thrives because of well-educated and highly-trained individuals who live and breathe creativity! These brainy individuals are as dedicated as they can be. With the right education, you, too, can become prepared for a journey into the world of the creative and the functional!

The Best Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree Colleges, as listed below, are the country’s most well-regarded schools that provide students with the most profound education and training in this field of study. They make excellent options for future Fashion Design professionals because of their excellent and updated curricula, well-credentialed faculty, and reasonable tuition!

Please check our Methodology page for more in-depth information on how this list was created!

12 Best Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree Colleges

Drexel University

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

Drexel University makes it to the top spot when scouting for the best online fashion degrees all across the United States. Upon enrolling in the program, you will learn about merchandising, visual design, and business insights.

In the BS in Design and Merchandising, you will be taught how to plan and successfully market services and products related to fashion.

Courses cover different mediums, including televised content and the Internet. Once you finish the course, you can find different jobs across the fashion industry in well-established firms and new product lines. 

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Philadelphia, USA.

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Baylor University

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

The Apparel Merchandising program of Baylor University provides students with the needed exposure to the fashion industry’s business side.

This online fashion degree program helps students understand the important knowledge they should have concerning retailing, purchasing, and product development. They are also taught the art of merchandising fashion. This program’s courses include:

A summer internship also forms part of this degree, and these internships are available not only all over the US but also in Europe. Opportunities like studying in Europe or Study Tour in Montreal or New York City are also available. 

You will plan a fashion show and oversee ticket sales, public relations, program flow, and model training in the spring season.

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Waco, Texas

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The program focuses more on the professional side of the fashion industry, where students will learn more about product development, retailing, and retail buying.

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Long Island University

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

The online fashion degree of Long Island University’s BS in Fashion Merchandising has concentrations in:

Students can minor in this program to boost their appeal to potential employers. The school’s unique and creative approach to fashion gears its enrollees for amazing careers in the fashion world. 

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Brookeville, New York 

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Academy of Art University

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Merchandising at the Academy of Art University provides a solid foundation in fashion management and fashion merchandising.

The program includes major functions needed to manage, plan, and sell fashion products successfully. Every student will learn and develop the critical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today’s global retail operations through hands-on classes in planning, buying, retail management, and product management. 

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San Francisco

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The New School Parsons School of Design

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

This program strongly focuses on the best practices in the fashion industry. Students are provided with and will learn about the theoretical and concrete foundations for entrepreneurial or industrial careers.

Their courses include merchandising and retail buying. When the course is completed, graduates will be exposed to the York fashion industry and armed with a solid mastery of global marketing. 

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New York

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Southern New Hampshire University

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

With the online fashion merchandise degree at Southern New Hampshire University, students will learn about the following:

You will also learn more about how to easily distinguish which styles will sell and how you can sell them well. 

This online course is administered by industry experts who are already working in the field for so long. And since class sizes are relatively small, everybody gets the chance to interact with the professors to learn deeper about how technology, business, and style intersect. Plus, you will also obtain critical real-world experience once you complete the required fashion merchandising internship.

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Manchester, NH

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Berkeley College

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

The Fashion Merchandising and Management degree program offered at Berkeley College emphasizes the business side of the fashion industry, enabling you to learn about current technology, retail distribution, consumer behavior, merchandising, sales, and product development.

Professors who have worked for renowned fashion brands will give you close, personal attention.

During your time at NYFW, you will have the opportunity to participate in fashion shows, tour fashion houses, etc. You can attend industry-related events and hear guest speakers from industry experts.

Retail showrooms and retailers will offer you the opportunity to volunteer. You may be able to gain valuable experience by participating in an internship or job-related assignment. 

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Central Michigan University

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

Central Michigan University’s bachelor’s degree in fashion and design is Michigan’s top-ranked fashion merchandising and design program.

Two online concentrations enable you to pursue a career in an industry that generates more than $250 billion in US spending each year with its $1.2 trillion market.

A keen sense of style is not enough to thrive in the fashion world. Creating a product that sells is also crucial. Fortunately, this program provides a skill set that will prepare you to be a successful fashion business professional by combining fashion theory with business practice.

This program will teach you how to use 3D printing, CAD, and product lifecycle management software. You will also be able to create an impressive portfolio of work.

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Johnson and Wales University

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

Johnson and Wales University offers an online Fashion Merchandising & Retailing bachelor’s degree if you’re aiming for a career in management, merchandising, marketing, or public relations.

Students will be prepared for careers as marketers, managers, and executives after completing this online degree program. In this course, students will learn about merchandise buying, visual merchandising, and fashion marketing, in addition to fashion and retail concepts.

The skills students gain in this degree program may be applied to internships, summer programs, and directed experiential education opportunities.

A student’s learning, interests, and career goals are considered when designing these programs. A faculty adviser can also help students choose a career focus.

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Old Dominion University

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

With an emphasis on Occupational & Technical Studies, Old Dominion University’s online Fashion Merchandising program aims to develop its students’ technical expertise and theoretical knowledge of fashion and other design industries.

With the fully online program, you’ll have the flexibility of earning your degree at home while still being able to spend time with your family.

The program curriculum consists of both general and technical courses to fully develop your skills. Take up courses in oral and written communication to effectively create reports and lead teams.

Learn consumer behavior, sales techniques, and advertising to become a well-rounded fashion designer or sales manager. 

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Norfolk, Virginia

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Liberty University Online

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

Gain the expertise in fashion design and sales that you need to start your career through Liberty University’s online Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising.

Develop innovative design solutions that positively impact the fashion community, both nationally and internationally. With this program, you’ll be able to develop products as well as wearable and niche garment pieces.

Aside from the general track, you can also choose between two specializations. The Creative Design track focuses on improving your creativity and design skills.

This is perfect if you’re looking into pursuing costume design and fashion illustration. On the other hand, the Fashion Writing track centers on your communication skills, making you fit for fashion journalism or blogging. 

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Lynchburg, Virginia

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

What are the types of Fashion degree programs offered online?

There are so many types of online fashion degree programs and areas of specialization. Here are some of them:

While fashion degrees differ from one another, these degrees are also universal to some extent. Their similarities include the following:

  • Color Theory
  • Visual Culture
  • Textile Science
  • Fashion History
  • Brands and Identity
  • Fashion Market Research
  • Trend Analysis
  • Visual Merchandising
  • Marketing and Promotion
  • E-commerce
  • Business of Fashion
  • Portfolio Development
  • Life Drawing
  • Fashion Studio
  • Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
Online Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree

What can Fashion Design degree holders expect career-wise?

A bachelor’s degree is very broad. Because of the many degrees that fall under this umbrella, some students sometimes wonder what jobs they can secure once they complete the course. 

In a fashion design degree, jobs include:

  • Fashion buyer
  • Stylist
  • Visual merchandiser
  • Blogger or influencer
  • Marketing Specialist
  • Fashion Journalist
  • Pattern Maker
  • Retail Manager
  • Textile Designer
  • Brand Manager

Key Takeaways

Overall, obtaining an online Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from a reputable college can provide students with a solid foundation and essential skills for a successful career in the fashion industry. The flexibility and convenience of online education allow students to balance their studies with other commitments while still receiving the same quality education as a traditional on-campus program.

Through a combination of theoretical and practical coursework, students will learn about fashion history, design principles, garment construction, and digital design technologies. They will also have the opportunity to develop a portfolio of their own work, which can be valuable when seeking employment in the competitive fashion industry.

Additionally, many online fashion design degrees offer opportunities for students to network and collaborate with industry professionals, gaining valuable insights and connections that can help jumpstart their careers.

In today’s digital age, the fashion industry is constantly evolving, and by completing an online program, students can stay up-to-date with current trends and technology. This can give them a competitive edge in the job market and prepare them for the fast-paced and ever-changing world of fashion

Overall, obtaining an online Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design is a worthwhile investment for those who have a passion for fashion and want to turn it into a successful career. With the convenience, flexibility, and valuable skills learned, online fashion design colleges offer a valuable and highly accessible option for those looking to enter the world of fashion.

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