Georgia’s fashion merchandising programs sit in a state with a real fashion business: a giant wholesale mart in Atlanta, apparel company headquarters, and a film and television industry that needs wardrobe staff. Four colleges report merchandising programs, two public and two private, and the public options are among the best-value merchandising degrees in the Southeast. This page compares them on cost after grants.
Fashion Merchandising programs in Georgia
| School | City | Type | Tuition (in-state) | Average net price | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia | Athens | Public | $11,450 | $13,936 | Design and merchandising |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta | Public | $8,664 | $15,931 | Merchandising |
| Brenau University | Gainesville | Private | $34,027 | $18,924 | Merchandising |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah | Private | $41,630 | $49,430 | Design and merchandising |
What it costs
4 colleges in Georgia report a program covering fashion merchandising. Net price, what students actually pay after grants, ranges from $13,936 at University of Georgia to $49,430 at Savannah College of Art and Design, with a median of $17,427 a year. Net price includes living costs, so students who live at home usually pay less. Published tuition and the full list of Georgia schools are on the Georgia fashion schools guide, and the national fashion merchandising directory lets you compare these programs with options in neighbouring states, which can be cheaper even at out-of-state rates.
Programs to look at first
The University of Georgia in Athens has the lowest net price among the state’s universities on our list and a long-established fashion merchandising program. Georgia State University puts students in downtown Atlanta, close to AmericasMart and corporate offices. Brenau University is a small private college in Gainesville where aid cuts the sticker price substantially, and the Savannah College of Art and Design is the region’s art and design school, with the highest net price in the state.
Public, private or community college?
The 2 public colleges on this list average $14,933 a year in net price, against $34,177 for the 2 private ones. The lowest-priced private option, Brenau University, still averages $18,924, so private study in fashion merchandising 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.
Before you apply in Georgia
Georgia residents should check eligibility for the state’s HOPE Scholarship, which helps cover tuition at in-state public colleges for students who meet its grade requirements and can make the University of Georgia and Georgia State much cheaper than their published prices.
Merchandising careers in Georgia
AmericasMart Atlanta hosts apparel markets several times a year where brands sell to boutique and specialty store buyers, and showroom work during markets is a common first job for students. Atlanta is also the headquarters of shapewear brand Spanx and children’s clothing company Carter’s, which employ product development, planning and merchandising teams. The Atlanta guide covers the city’s fashion economy in more detail, including wholesale, retail and styling work.
Studying fashion merchandising online
Merchandising is the part of fashion that works best online, and several accredited public universities offer complete online merchandising bachelor’s degrees, with published prices that compare well with private tuition. They are compared in the online fashion degrees guide; the trade-off is that online students must arrange internships themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest fashion merchandising program in Georgia?
University of Georgia in Athens has the lowest net price on this list, $13,936 a year.
How many Georgia colleges offer fashion merchandising?
4 colleges on our list offer a program covering fashion merchandising, 2 of them public.
What jobs does a fashion merchandising degree lead to?
Assistant buyer, merchandise planner, allocation analyst, product developer and retail management roles. The fashion merchandising degree guide covers pay and prospects.