Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
Fashion Stylist Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a fashion stylist. Fashion stylists usually study graphic design, specialized sales and merchandising, or business. 64% of fashion stylists hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,952 real fashion stylist resumes to see exactly what fashion stylist education sections show.
The most common colleges for fashion stylists are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
There are also many online fashion stylist courses to help get the education required to be a fashion stylist.
What education do you need to become a fashion stylist?
What degree do you need to be a fashion stylist?
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Associate, 22%
- High School Diploma, 7%
- Master's, 4%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a fashion stylist?
- Graphic Design, 25%
- Business, 10%
- Marketing, 8%
- Other Majors, 36%
Most common colleges for fashion stylists
Fashion Stylist Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 31.92% |
| Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-San Francisco | 10.77% |
| FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising | 6.15% |
| Academy of Art University | 5.77% |
| The New School | 4.23% |
Best majors for fashion stylists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic Design | 25.1% |
| 2 | Specialized Sales And Merchandising | 21.1% |
| 3 | Business | 9.7% |
| 4 | Marketing | 7.8% |
| 5 | Communication | 7.1% |
Best colleges for fashion stylists
The best colleges for fashion stylists are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A fashion 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 fashion 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 fashion 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
20 best online courses for fashion stylists
Advertising Disclosure
1. 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...
2. Digital Fashion Innovation
Digital Fashion Innovation is a collaboration between Parsons School of Design at The New School and The Digital Fashion Group Academy.\n\nIn this specialization, we examine the revolution of the fashion industry as it has set course towards a more digital and sustainable future. Through three different courses, you will not only look creatively at the ways technology can combat industry-wide challenges in fashion, but actively explore avenues to join the effort to create a more ethical fashion...
3. Fashion 101 Design & Styling- Textures, Shaping, & More!
Learn the Fundamentals of Fashion Design & Styling Including: Textures, Patterns, Body Types, & More!...
4. How To Dress Like A Fashion Icon New Style, New You!
Be your own PERSONAL STYLIST, Master your IMAGE boost your CONFIDENCE! Learn FASHION STYLING from this BESTSELLER course...
5. Intro to Fashion Illustration -Beginners- Fashion Design
Covering a range of drawing and design techniques, various materials, and tools to create finished fashion illustration!...
6. Fashion Blogging: Starting a Fashion Blog
Fashion blogging made simple - wordpress, photography, blog name, brand collaborations...
7. 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...
8. Pattern Making for Fashion Design -PART 1- Essential Skills!
How to Use Pattern Making Principals and Techniques to Draft and Manipulate Patterns to Create Your Fashion Design Ideas...
9. Basic Fashion Illustration
From a 4-month course to a 2-hour video. Learn the simple techniques of how to draw fashion figures and postures...
10. 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...
Top 10 most affordable universities for fashion stylists
The most affordable schools for fashion stylists are University of Florida, florida state university, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for fashion 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 fashion 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
F
5. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,740
Cost of Attendance
17,864
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for fashion stylists
The hardest universities for fashion stylists to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for fashion 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 fashion 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
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for fashion stylists
The easiest schools for fashion 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 fashion 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 fashion 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
Average fashion stylist salary by education level
| Fashion Stylist education level | Fashion Stylist salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,684 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $55,400 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $56,078 |
Fashion Stylist Education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for fashion stylist jobs
Loading...
Loading...
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025