Also in Hawaii: All fashion schools in Hawaii
Three Hawaii colleges report a fashion design program to the U.S. Department of Education, all of them public and all in the University of Hawaii system: UH Manoa in Honolulu, Honolulu Community College and UH Maui College. Manoa offers a bachelor’s degree; the two community colleges offer shorter, hands-on Fashion Technology programs. This page compares them and lists mainland options through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE).
Hawaii fashion design at a glance
- 3 colleges offer fashion design, all public.
- Bachelor’s: UH Manoa’s B.S. in Fashion Design and Merchandising, with a required internship.
- Lowest yearly cost after grants: UH Maui College, $5,859.
- Hawaii Promise covers unmet tuition and fees at UH community colleges.
Fashion Design programs in Hawaii
| School | City | Type | Tuition (in-state) | Average net price | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii Maui Collegefederal data | Kahului | Public | $3,284 | $5,859 | Design |
| Honolulu Community Collegefederal data | Honolulu | Public | $3,174 | $8,377 | Design |
| University of Hawaii at Manoafederal data | Honolulu | Public | $12,402 | $11,122 | 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
3 colleges in Hawaii report a program covering fashion design. Net price, what students actually pay after grants, ranges from $5,859 at University of Hawaii Maui College to $11,122 at University of Hawaii at Manoa, with a median of $8,377 a year. Net price includes living costs, so students who live at home usually pay less. Every Hawaii option is on our guide to fashion schools in Hawaii.
The three programs
University of Hawaii at Manoa (Honolulu)
UH Manoa offers a B.S. in Fashion Design and Merchandising in its College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Students specialize in design or merchandising, or build an individual track. An internship is required, and the core includes fashion forecasting and a capstone. One stated goal is to prepare a pre-employment portfolio. The university says its costume collection is one of the largest at a U.S. university.
For 2026-27, tuition per semester at 12 or more credits is $5,880 for residents, $16,896 for non-residents and $8,820 for eligible WUE students, plus $457 in fees (UH Manoa tuition).
Honolulu Community College
Honolulu CC’s Fashion Technology program covers clothing construction, industrial sewing, pattern making, textiles, fashion sketching and design, computerized grading and marker making. The college says it is the only program of its kind on Oahu. It awards certificates and an associate degree, and its annual fashion show is attended by industry professionals; the 2026 show was on May 7. Resident tuition at UH community colleges is $131 per credit.
University of Hawaii Maui College (Kahului)
UH Maui College offers a 33-credit Academic Subject Certificate in Fashion Technology focused on sewing methods, pattern development and starting an apparel business. Federal data also shows recent associate degree graduates; ask the college whether the associate degree is still offered. Resident tuition is $131 per credit.
Public, private or community college?
Every college on this list is public, averaging $8,452 a year in net price, so Hawaii residents can study fashion design without paying private tuition. The cheapest route to a bachelor’s is usually to start at a two-year college such as Honolulu Community College ($8,377 average net) and transfer to a public university such as University of Hawaii at Manoa ($11,122). Ask both schools in advance which fashion courses transfer.
Paying for it
Hawaii Promise is a last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition, fees, books and other direct costs not met by other aid at UH community colleges, including Honolulu CC and Maui College. You need Hawaii resident tuition status, a FAFSA, and at least 6 credits a semester. No separate application is needed. In 2023-24, the average award was $1,600.
Mainland design programs (WUE)
Hawaii is part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, so Hawaii students can pay reduced tuition at participating western colleges.
- University of Idaho: B.S. in Apparel, Textiles and Design, with a 2026-27 WUE rate of $13,538. See fashion design schools in Idaho.
- Oregon State University: Apparel Design B.S., with a competitive WUE scholarship.
- Utah State University: Outdoor Product Design and Development B.S.; WUE students pay 150% of in-state tuition.
- Central Washington University: its Wildcat WUE rate of $15,467 for 2026-27 requires a 3.8 GPA.
Fashion design jobs in Hawaii
| Job | Jobs in Hawaii | Median pay in Hawaii | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion designers | Not published | $47,990 | $80,960 |
| Buyers and purchasing agents (all industries) | 1,720 | $74,240 | $77,710 |
Figures are from the BLS for May 2025 (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics). The BLS does not publish the number of fashion design jobs in Hawaii, but the median wage it does publish is well below the national median.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest fashion design program in Hawaii?
University of Hawaii Maui College in Kahului has the lowest net price on this list, $5,859 a year.
How many Hawaii colleges offer fashion design?
3 colleges on our list offer a program covering fashion design, 3 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.
Does UH Manoa’s fashion degree require an internship?
Yes. The B.S. in Fashion Design and Merchandising requires an internship related to the student’s career interests.
Can Hawaii Promise pay for a fashion program?
Yes, at UH community colleges. Honolulu CC and UH Maui College students who qualify can have unmet tuition and fees covered. It does not apply at UH Manoa.
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 Hawaii 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.