Shoe Designer Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a shoe designer. Shoe designers usually study graphic design, business, or psychology. 61% of shoe designers hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 283 real shoe designer resumes to see exactly what shoe designer education sections show.

The most common colleges for shoe designers are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

There are also many online shoe designer courses to help get the education required to be a shoe designer.

What education do you need to become a shoe designer?

What degree do you need to be a shoe designer?

The most common degree for shoe designers is bachelor's degree, with 61% of shoe designers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 15% and associate degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 61%
  • Associate, 15%
  • High School Diploma, 11%
  • Master's, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a shoe designer?

You should major in graphic design to become a shoe designer. 25% of shoe designers major in graphic design. Other common majors for a shoe designer include business and psychology.

Most common colleges for shoe designers

Shoe designers often get their degrees at Fashion Institute of Technology, Academy of Art University, and University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Here are the most common colleges for shoe designers in the US based on their resumes.
Shoe Designer Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
Fashion Institute of Technology18.92%
Academy of Art University8.11%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro5.41%
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania5.41%
The New School5.41%

Best majors for shoe designers

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Graphic Design25.5%
2Business9.8%
3Psychology9.8%
4Fine Arts8.8%
5Accounting5.9%

Best colleges for shoe designers

The best colleges for shoe designers are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Duke University.

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

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
English
Fine Arts
Elementary Education

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Psychology
Finance
Public Relations

3. Duke University

Durham, NC ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Psychology
English
Liberal Arts

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Finance
Business
Marketing
Liberal Arts

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

Website

https://umich.edu/

Address

2074 Fleming Administration Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $16,010 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.83%
SAT Average - 1434
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Kinesiology
Fine Arts
English

20 best online courses for shoe designers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for shoe designers

The most affordable schools for shoe designers are California State University - Long Beach, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for shoe designers 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 shoe designers.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Biology
Liberal Arts
Kinesiology

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Website

www.ufl.edu/

Address

300 SW 13th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,700 per year

Net Price: $8,057 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 38.75%
SAT Average - 1362
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Psychology
Public Relations
Finance

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

Website

www.csub.edu

Address

9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,100 per year

Net Price: $5,687 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 23.02%
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Biology
Psychology
Criminal Justice

4. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$5,656

Cost of Attendance

21,623

Website

www.fsu.edu

Address

222 South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1470

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,700 per year

Net Price: $10,744 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.78%
SAT Average - 1289
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Finance
Marketing
Accounting

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA ā€¢ Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

Website

https://www.csudh.edu

Address

1000 E Victoria St, Carson, CA 90747

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,300 per year

Net Price: $3,891 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.94%
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Biology

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for shoe designers

The hardest universities for shoe designers to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Duke University.

Some great schools for shoe designers 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 shoe designers 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 ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Psychology
Finance
Public Relations

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
English
Fine Arts
Elementary Education

3. Duke University

Durham, NC ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

9%

SAT Average

1,516

Website

WWW.DUKE.EDU

Address

103 Allen Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $93,200 per year

Net Price: $23,442 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.91%
SAT Average - 1516
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Psychology
English
Liberal Arts

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

17%

SAT Average

1,507

Website

www.cmu.edu/

Address

5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $84,000 per year

Net Price: $32,674 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 17.12%
SAT Average - 1507
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Graphic Design
Liberal Arts
Fine Arts

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Finance
Business
Marketing
Liberal Arts

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for shoe designers

The easiest schools for shoe designers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, wayland baptist university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a shoe designer 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 shoe designers.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

82%

SAT Average

983

Website

www.ndnu.edu

Address

1500 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002-1908

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $25,610 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.52%
SAT Average - 983
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Accounting

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

Website

www.wbu.edu

Address

1900 W 7th St., Plainview, TX 79072

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,300 per year

Net Price: $21,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.04%
SAT Average - 1003
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Criminal Justice
Elementary Education
Kinesiology

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Biology
Accounting
Photography

4. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,044

Website

www.uiw.edu

Address

4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,000 per year

Net Price: $23,441 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 87.94%
SAT Average - 1044
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Accounting
Psychology
Criminal Justice

5. Kean University

Union, NJ ā€¢ Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

Website

www.kean.edu

Address

1000 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083-0411

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,000 per year

Net Price: $18,547 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 85.98%
SAT Average - 991
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Biology
Business
Criminal Justice
Accounting

Average shoe designer salary by education level

According to our data, shoe designers with a Associate degree earn the highest average salary, at $90,317 annually. Shoe designers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $88,793.
Shoe Designer education level
ascdesc
Shoe Designer salary
ascdesc
High School Diploma or Less$63,699
Bachelor's Degree$88,793
Some College/ Associate Degree$90,317

Shoe Designer Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

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