Guides for Kentucky: Fashion design schools in Kentucky
Kentucky fashion schools at a glance (2026)
- 2 public universities offer fashion degrees: the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University.
- Lowest yearly cost after grants: Western Kentucky University, $11,789.
- UK 2026-27 tuition and fees: $7,088.50 a semester for Kentucky residents.
- Buyers in Kentucky hold 5,440 jobs, with a median pay of $65,240.
Two Kentucky universities offer fashion degrees and report graduates in fashion design or fashion merchandising to the U.S. Department of Education. Both are public: the University of Kentucky (UK) in Lexington and Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green. Eastern Kentucky University now offers only a minor. The table below compares them on tuition, yearly cost after grants, admission, graduation and earnings.
Compare the 2 Fashion Schools in Kentucky
| School | City | Type | Tuition/yr | Yearly cost after grants | Admit rate | Grad rate | Median earnings | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky UniversityLowest average yearly cost after grants in the state: about $11,789.federal data | Bowling Green | Public | $12,072 | $11,789 | 94% | 56% | $48,408 | Design + MerchBachelor's |
| University of KentuckyThe biggest school on this list, with 24,763 students in Lexington.federal data | Lexington | Public | $13,907 | $18,868 | 93% | 72% | $63,924 | Design + MerchBachelor's, master's |
Showing all 2 schools
Kentucky’s Fashion Schools, One by One
University of Kentucky (Lexington)
UK offers a B.S. in Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles in its Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. The degree covers product development, retail strategy, trend forecasting, global sourcing and sustainability, plus sketching, visual merchandising and buying. It is 120 credit hours. Students also run fashion show fundraisers. Federal data shows UK also awards master’s degrees in the field.
Community college students have a clear route in: the degree has a transfer pathway from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). For 2026-27, full-time Kentucky residents pay $7,088.50 a semester in tuition and mandatory fees, and non-residents pay $17,923 (UK tuition).
Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green)
WKU teaches fashion through its B.S. in Interior Design and Fashion Studies, formerly called Interior Design and Fashion Merchandising. The fashion track mixes merchandising with hands-on work such as apparel construction, pattern making and draping, and portfolio design. WKU’s catalog now lists the program under its art department, so check the current catalog for the course list. WKU has the lowest yearly cost after grants in Kentucky, about $11,789.
Fashion Design vs. Merchandising in Kentucky
Kentucky has no studio fashion design B.F.A. Both programs lean toward the business and product side: merchandising, buying, sourcing and product development. WKU’s track includes the most sewing and patternmaking. If you want a design-first degree, compare the fashion design schools in Kentucky with design programs in nearby states, such as the Apparel Design concentration at Middle Tennessee State.
How Much Does Fashion School Cost in Kentucky?
The yearly cost after grants is the average a student on federal aid pays for a full year, including housing and food.
| School | Yearly cost after grants |
|---|---|
| Western Kentucky University | $11,789 |
| University of Kentucky | $18,868 |
UK costs about $7,000 more a year than WKU after grants, but it has the higher graduation rate. Compare each school’s actual aid offer.
Paying for Fashion School in Kentucky
- FAFSA. File it every year for federal, state and school aid.
- KEES and state grants. Kentucky students earn Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) money for their high school grades, and the state also offers need-based grants. The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) runs both and lists current amounts.
- Start at a community college. UK’s KCTCS transfer pathway lets you finish general courses at a lower cost first.
- Academic Common Market. Kentucky takes part, but the program only covers degrees not offered at a public university in your home state. Kentucky has public fashion programs, so this is unlikely to apply (SREB).
Looking Just Over the Border
Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro has a Regional Scholars rate for Kentucky residents who have a 25 ACT (1200 SAT) and study full time. For 2026-27 it costs $9,240 a semester at 15 credit hours (MTSU rates). MTSU offers both apparel design and fashion merchandising. See the Tennessee guide, and compare more schools in Ohio, Indiana and Virginia below.
More Kentucky guides: Fashion Design Schools in Kentucky
Fashion Careers in Kentucky
| Job | Jobs in Kentucky | Median pay in Kentucky | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion designers | 120 | Not published | $80,960 |
| Buyers and purchasing agents (all industries) | 5,440 | $65,240 | $77,710 |
Figures are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2025 (BLS OEWS). Kentucky has few design jobs. Buying and merchandising work, which fits UK’s and WKU’s programs, is far more common.
Closed and Ended Programs
- Eastern Kentucky University, Apparel Design and Merchandising: its 2026-27 catalog no longer lists the bachelor’s degree; only an 18-credit minor remains (EKU catalog). We no longer list it in the table, although it reported graduates in recent federal data.
Fashion Schools in Kentucky: FAQs
What is the cheapest fashion school in Kentucky?
Western Kentucky University has the lower average yearly cost after grants, about $11,789, per U.S. Department of Education data. The University of Kentucky averages about $18,868.
What fashion degree does the University of Kentucky offer?
A B.S. in Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. It covers product development, retail strategy, trend forecasting, global sourcing and sustainability.
How much is UK tuition for 2026-27?
Full-time Kentucky residents pay $7,088.50 a semester in tuition and mandatory fees. Non-residents pay $17,923 a semester.
Can I start at a community college and transfer?
Yes. UK's Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles degree has a transfer pathway from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).
Does Eastern Kentucky University still offer a fashion degree?
Not as a degree. EKU's 2026-27 catalog lists apparel design and merchandising only as a minor, so students who want a fashion bachelor's degree in Kentucky look at UK or WKU.
Can Kentucky students get a lower rate in Tennessee?
Yes, possibly. Middle Tennessee State University's Regional Scholars rate covers Kentucky residents with a 25 ACT or 1200 SAT. In 2026-27 it is $9,240 a semester at 15 credit hours.
How we built this list: schools come from U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions for 2022-23 and 2023-24. We count a school if it reported graduates in fashion/apparel design (CIP 50.0407), apparel and textiles (19.09xx), or fashion merchandising (52.1902, 52.1904). Tuition, cost after grants, admit rate, graduation rate and earnings come from College Scorecard, retrieved November 1, 2026. The table shows the latest federal tuition. The 2026-27 rates in the text were checked on each school’s own site where it allowed access. See our methodology. Spot an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it.