Also in Arkansas: All fashion schools in Arkansas
One Arkansas college reports a program covering fashion design: the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Its degree is called Apparel Merchandising and Product Development. Product development covers the design side of apparel work, from creating garments to sourcing and testing them. This page explains the degree, what it costs, and nearby design programs that offer Arkansas students a discount.
Arkansas fashion design at a glance
- 1 college offers a program covering fashion design: the University of Arkansas (public).
- 2026-27 tuition and fees: $10,916 for Arkansas residents at 30 credit hours.
- Yearly cost after grants: $17,571.
- Harding University’s fashion merchandising degree has ended; apparel courses are now part of its general Family and Consumer Sciences major.
Fashion Design programs in Arkansas
| School | City | Type | Tuition (in-state) | Average net price | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansasfederal data | Fayetteville | Public | $10,496 | $17,571 | Design and merchandising |
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
One college in Arkansas reports a program covering fashion design. Net price, what students actually pay after grants, is $17,571 a year at University of Arkansas. Net price includes living costs, so students who live at home usually pay less. For 2026-27, the university lists resident tuition and fees of $10,916 and non-resident tuition and fees of $33,184 for 30 credit hours (U of A estimated expenses). Every Arkansas option is on our guide to fashion schools in Arkansas.
University of Arkansas: Apparel Merchandising and Product Development
The Apparel Merchandising and Product Development degree is a Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences of 120 credit hours. The university plans it as a nine-semester degree because a required summer study tour and a required summer internship do not fit into eight semesters.
Courses include Computer Aided Textile Design, Global Sourcing in the Apparel Industry, Sustainability in the Apparel and Textile Industry, and Historic and Contemporary Apparel. The mix suits students who want to work in apparel product development, sourcing or merchandising for brands and retailers. Students who want a studio degree centered on sketching, draping and runway collections should compare it with the design programs listed below.
Public, private or community college?
Every college on this list is public, averaging $17,571 a year in net price, so Arkansas 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.
Paying for it
The Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship pays $2,000 in the first year, $4,000 in the second and third years, and $5,000 in the fourth year at four-year colleges. To keep it, students need a 2.5 cumulative GPA and must complete 27 hours in the first year and 30 hours a year after that.
Design programs in nearby states
- Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro) offers a B.S. in Textiles, Merchandising, and Design with an Apparel Design concentration. Arkansas is one of the eight states in its Regional Scholars Program: students with an ACT of 25 or SAT of 1200 pay $9,240 per semester at 15 hours in 2026-27.
- Louisiana State University offers a Textiles, Apparel & Merchandising major with an Apparel Design concentration. See our fashion design schools in Louisiana.
- Oklahoma State University offers a B.S. in Apparel Design and Technology. See our fashion design schools in Oklahoma.
The Academic Common Market lets Arkansas students pay in-state tuition for some out-of-state degrees, but only for degrees that Arkansas public colleges do not offer (SREB). Whether an out-of-state design degree qualifies depends on Arkansas’s approval, so ask the state’s ACM coordinator before you apply.
Fashion design jobs in Arkansas
| Job | Jobs in Arkansas | Median pay in Arkansas | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion designers | 190 | Not published | $80,960 |
| Buyers and purchasing agents (all industries) | 4,510 | $75,870 | $77,710 |
Figures are from the BLS for May 2025 (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics). Arkansas has about 190 fashion design jobs. The BLS does not publish a median wage for them. Buying jobs are far more common.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest fashion design program in Arkansas?
University of Arkansas in Fayetteville has the lowest net price on this list, $17,571 a year.
How many Arkansas colleges offer fashion design?
One college on our list offers a program covering fashion design, and it is 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.
Is the University of Arkansas degree a fashion design degree?
It is a product development and merchandising degree. It covers design topics such as computer-aided textile design, alongside sourcing and merchandising. Students who want a studio design degree should also look at programs in nearby states.
Does Harding University still offer fashion merchandising?
No. Harding no longer lists a fashion merchandising degree. Apparel and textiles courses are now part of its Family and Consumer Sciences B.S.
Schools identified via U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions (fashion/apparel design CIP 50.0407, apparel and textiles 19.09). Tuition and average net price are from College Scorecard (retrieved November 1, 2026), the same figures as our Arkansas guide. Program names, requirements and 2026-27 rates were checked on each school’s site on November 1, 2026. Wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025. See our methodology. Spot an error? Tell us.