Also in Virginia: All fashion schools in Virginia
Three Virginia colleges report a fashion design program to the U.S. Department of Education. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond is the only public option. Marymount University in Arlington, just outside Washington, D.C., and Liberty University in Lynchburg are private. All three teach design at the bachelor’s level, but in very different settings: an art school, a small private university and a family and consumer sciences department. This page compares them on cost, admission and what each program is like.
Fashion design in Virginia at a glance (2026)
- 3 colleges teach fashion design: 1 public, 2 private.
- Lowest yearly cost after grants: Virginia Commonwealth University, $25,037.
- Art foundation year: VCU’s Fashion Design B.F.A. starts with VCUarts’ first-year Art Foundation program.
- No admission portfolio: Liberty’s B.S. in Fashion Design.
- Fashion designers in Virginia: 100 jobs, median pay $94,120 (BLS, May 2025).
Fashion Design programs in Virginia
| School | City | Type | Tuition (in-state) | Average net price | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Commonwealth Universityfederal data | Richmond | Public | $17,490 | $25,037 | Design and merchandising |
| Marymount Universityfederal data | Arlington | Private | $42,986 | $28,521 | Design and merchandising |
| Liberty Universityfederal data | Lynchburg | Private | $23,171 | $29,235 | Design |
Source: tuition and average net price (yearly cost after grants, for students receiving federal aid) from College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, retrieved November 1, 2026. Program lists: IPEDS completions, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Each “federal data” link opens that school’s record.
What it costs
3 colleges in Virginia report a program covering fashion design. Net price, what students actually pay after grants, ranges from $25,037 at Virginia Commonwealth University to $29,235 at Liberty University, with a median of $28,521 a year. Net price includes living costs, so students who live at home usually pay less. Published tuition and the full list of schools are on our guide to fashion schools in Virginia, and the national fashion design directory lets you compare these programs with options in other states.
The Three Programs
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
VCUarts’ Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising has more than 300 students and offers a B.F.A. in Fashion Design, a B.A. in Fashion Merchandising and a minor. The department says it is a university member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Student work is shown each spring at the annual VCUarts Fashion Event, and the department lists alumni at Ralph Lauren, Target, Nordstrom and Louis Vuitton.
Admission: Fashion Design is one of the VCUarts programs that begin with the Art Foundation program, the shared first year for visual arts and design majors. VCUarts says applicants complete program-specific requirements such as a portfolio, audition or interview. For fall 2027, the scholarship deadline is November 1, 2026 and the regular deadline is January 15, 2027 (VCUarts first-year applicants). 2026-27 tuition and fees: $17,963 a year for Virginia residents and $41,127 for out-of-state students at 15 credits a semester (VCU tuition).
Marymount University, Arlington
Marymount is a private university in Arlington, just outside Washington, D.C. Federal data shows it teaches both fashion design and fashion merchandising. Marymount’s website blocked our check, so we could not confirm its current degree names, admission rules or 2026-27 tuition. Federal figures put its tuition at $42,986 and its average yearly cost after grants at $28,521. Ask Marymount’s admissions office for current details before you apply.
Liberty University, Lynchburg
Liberty’s B.S. in Fashion: Fashion Design is a 120-credit residential degree in the Department of Family & Consumer Sciences. Students work in a fashion design lab with sewing machines, sergers, draping forms and embroidery and fabric design software. The program offers internship, fashion show and fashion tour opportunities. There is no portfolio for admission; students build one during the degree. Liberty says its courses are taught from a biblical worldview. A merchandising concentration of the same degree is also offered.
2026-27 tuition: $25,390 a year for residential undergraduates, or $870 per credit hour part time (Liberty tuition).
Public, private or community college?
The one public college on this list averages $25,037 a year in net price, against $28,878 for the 2 private ones. The lowest-priced private option, Marymount University, still averages $28,521, so private study in fashion design usually costs more even after aid. 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.
Design or Merchandising?
Design programs teach you to create garments: sketching, patternmaking, draping and sewing. Merchandising programs teach buying, planning and selling. VCU separates the two into a B.F.A. and a B.A., while Liberty offers both as concentrations of one B.S. Virginia has far more buying jobs than design jobs: the BLS counts 22,120 buyers and purchasing agents, with a median of $89,210, against about 100 fashion designers.
Paying for Fashion Design School in Virginia
- FAFSA. File it every year for federal, state and school aid.
- Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG). A state grant for Virginia residents at eligible private nonprofit colleges in Virginia, which can include Marymount and Liberty. The state sets the amount each year, so ask each school’s aid office for the 2026-27 figure and deadline.
- Academic Common Market. Virginia is a full member, but the program only covers degrees not offered at a public university in your home state. VCU teaches fashion design, so Virginians are unlikely to qualify for fashion programs elsewhere (SREB).
Fashion Design Jobs in Virginia
| Job | Jobs in Virginia | Median pay in Virginia | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion designers | 100 | $94,120 | $80,960 |
| Buyers and purchasing agents (all industries) | 22,120 | $89,210 | $77,710 |
Figures are from the BLS for May 2025 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics). Design jobs in Virginia are few, but they pay above the national median.
Fashion Design Schools Near Virginia
- North Carolina State University (Raleigh) offers fashion and textile design through its Wilson College of Textiles. Non-resident tuition and fees are $17,480.25 a semester in 2026-27. See fashion schools in North Carolina.
- Washington, D.C. and Maryland have a few options close to Northern Virginia. See fashion schools in Washington, D.C. and fashion schools in Maryland.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest fashion design program in Virginia?
Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond has the lowest net price on this list, $25,037 a year.
How many Virginia colleges offer fashion design?
3 colleges on our list offer a program covering fashion design, 1 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.
Which Virginia fashion design programs need a portfolio?
Liberty does not require one for admission. VCU’s Fashion Design B.F.A. begins with the Art Foundation year, and VCUarts lists program-specific requirements such as a portfolio, so check its first-year applicant page. Ask Marymount directly.
How much do fashion designers earn in Virginia?
The median wage for fashion designers in Virginia was $94,120 in May 2025, above the U.S. median of $80,960, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state had about 100 fashion design jobs.
Is there a fashion design program near Washington, D.C. in Virginia?
Yes. Marymount University in Arlington teaches fashion design and merchandising. Confirm its current programs and tuition with the university.
How we built this list: schools come from U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions for 2022-23 and 2023-24 in fashion/apparel design (CIP 50.0407) and apparel and textiles (19.09xx); schools whose program covers both design and merchandising are included. The table’s tuition and average net price come from College Scorecard (retrieved November 1, 2026). Program details and 2026-27 costs were checked on each school’s own site on November 1, 2026. See our methodology. Spot an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it.