Delaware is a small state with two public universities that report fashion design programs, and its position on the Northeast corridor puts Philadelphia, New York and Washington within reach for internships. This page compares the two Delaware programs on cost after grants.
Fashion Design programs in Delaware
| School | City | Type | Tuition (in-state) | Average net price | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware State University | Dover | Public | $10,670 | $13,910 | Design |
| University of Delaware | Newark | Public | $16,810 | $17,799 | Design and merchandising |
What it costs
2 colleges in Delaware report a program covering fashion design. Net price, what students actually pay after grants, ranges from $13,910 at Delaware State University to $17,799 at University of Delaware, with a median of $15,854 a year. Net price includes living costs, so students who live at home usually pay less. Published tuition and the full list of Delaware schools are on the Delaware fashion schools guide, and the national fashion design directory lets you compare these programs with options in neighbouring states, which can be cheaper even at out-of-state rates.
The two programs
The University of Delaware in Newark offers fashion and apparel studies covering design and merchandising within the state’s flagship university. Delaware State University in Dover has the lowest published tuition in the state and a lower average net price. Both are public, so Delaware residents pay in-state rates.
Public, private or community college?
Every college on this list is public, averaging $15,854 a year in net price, so Delaware residents can study fashion design without paying private tuition. None of these programs is at a two-year college, so students who want to save money can take general education courses at a local community college first and transfer into one of the universities above.
Before you apply in Delaware
The University of Delaware program is the larger of the two and is well known in the Mid-Atlantic for combining design with merchandising and sustainability coursework. Students choosing between it and Delaware State should compare class sizes, studio access and internship placements as well as price. Delaware is also part of regional tuition arrangements with some neighbouring states for certain programs, so out-of-state students should ask about any reduced-rate options before comparing sticker prices. The two campuses are under an hour apart by car, so it is easy to visit both before deciding.
Design careers from Delaware
Delaware itself has a small fashion industry, but its location is the advantage. Philadelphia, about 40 minutes from Newark, is the home of URBN’s design teams for Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People, and New York’s design studios are about two hours away by train. Students at Delaware programs typically plan internships in those cities; the Pennsylvania guide and the New York City guide cover them.
Studying fashion design online
Design is the hardest part of fashion to study online, because construction, draping and fittings need a studio. If none of the programs above is within reach, a common route is to take general education and fashion business courses online and construction classes in person at the nearest community college. The online fashion degrees guide explains which parts of a design education travel and which do not.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest fashion design program in Delaware?
Delaware State University in Dover has the lowest net price on this list, $13,910 a year.
How many Delaware colleges offer fashion design?
2 colleges on our list offer a program covering fashion design, 2 of them public.
Do I need a portfolio for a fashion design program?
Most bachelor’s design programs ask for a portfolio or review one during the first year, while community college programs usually admit without one. Check each school’s requirements.