Parsons is a private school and prices its tuition accordingly. In contrast, FIT, which is part of the State University of New York, has an arrangement with the city and state that helps make its tuitions affordable for a broader range of students.
The annual cost for undergraduate tuition for Parsons for the 2008 academic year is $32,640. This is steep compared with FIT’s more subsidized costs, which for the 2008-2009 academic school year is $4,957 for in-state students and $11,530 for those from out-of-state.
Room and board for both of these New York-based design schools are comparable, coming in the $10,000 to $12,000 range (FIT is a little less, while Parsons is a little more.) Students can also expect to incur additional school fees, books and other expenses associated with living in a big city and partaking in a range of activities. And costs aside, both schools have an excellent reputation for what they provide.
If you want to be on the West Coast to get your education, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) offers several associates’ degree programs through their range of California-based campuses, which are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Orange County.
A professional Associate’s degree from FIDM that takes 15 months to complete is $31,490 for tuition, including books and fees, with room and board costs additional. (There are also several shorter duration, and slightly less expensive, associate’s degree options available at FIDM).
If being in the heart of it all isn’t your priority, consider a smaller city, such as Providence, Rhode Island, to serve as your home base. The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is a very competitive option. While the pace in Rhode Island will be a bit quieter than New York and Los Angeles, students will still be part of a vibrant, artistic and ethnically-diverse city that isn’t far from Boston. The school features bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
The undergraduate tuition at RISD for the 2008 academic school year is $31,430, plus $9,360 for room and board. (Fees, books and other living costs are additional.)
A few other good design colleges worth mentioning include The Massachusetts College of Art, which costs b for in-state students and $19,200 out of-state, and the California College of Arts, which is $26,100 for annual tuition costs. Both schools charge an additional price for room, board and fees.
Prepare For A Rewarding Career
If your dream of becoming a fashion designer is strong, while you shop around for schools there are also some simple things you can do to prepare. First, begin compiling an art portfolio with your design sketches. Many design schools will require you to have that as part of the admissions process. It is also a good idea to get some retail experience so you can begin to learn about customer service, marketing and fashion trends and visual presentations. Finally, start becoming more aware of color, design and texture in your own wardrobe and in a range of stores and other settings. Stay current with the latest fashion magazines, fashion websites and online chats to get a feel for what’s “in” and what’s on the style horizon. These steps will help prepare you for a career in the high-fashion world and to be ready for all of the excitement that surely lies ahead.
