Maine fashion schools at a glance (2026)
- 1 college offers a fashion degree: Maine College of Art & Design in Portland.
- Its program: a BFA in Textile & Fashion Design, covering weaving, knitting and printing as well as garment design.
- Yearly cost after grants: $40,801, in federal data.
- Maine State Grant: up to $2,500 a year for eligible Maine residents in 2026-27.
- Regional tuition: Maine residents can get a reduced rate for the University of Rhode Island’s fashion major.
Maine has one college that reports graduates in fashion design to the U.S. Department of Education: Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) in Portland. Its program is unusual because it teaches textiles and fashion together. Students make their own fabrics as well as garments. This page covers that program in depth, plus regional options for Maine students who want a public price or a merchandising degree.
Compare Fashion Schools in Maine
| School | City | Type | Tuition/yr | Yearly cost after grants | Admit rate | Grad rate | Median earnings | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine College of Art & Designfederal data | Portland | Private | $44,358 | $40,801 | 76% | 51% | $38,062 | Design & TextilesBachelor's |
Showing the 1 school
Maine College of Art & Design (Portland)
MECA&D offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textile & Fashion Design. Students study weaving, knitting, textile printing and dyeing, along with draping, drafting, garment construction and collection development. The program also covers fashion history, sustainability and materials.
- Junior year: Collection Development.
- Senior year: advanced projects in textiles or fashion, and a 6-credit thesis studio.
- Studios: three connected studios with industrial sewing machines, floor looms, knitting machines, textile printing tables, a darkroom and a programmable embroidery machine. Third- and fourth-year majors share a studio of their own.
- Careers MECA&D names: knitwear designer, technical designer, weaver, costume designer, printed textile designer, textile artist and independent fashion business owner.
MECA&D is a small art college, with about 415 students. Federal data show a 76% admit rate and a 51% graduation rate.
How Much Does It Cost?
For 2026-27, MECA&D lists BFA tuition of $44,760 a year, a $750 technology and services fee, about $675 in lab fees and an estimated $17,180 for room and board (MECA&D costs). After grants, federal figures put the average yearly cost at $40,801. That figure includes housing and food. Students who live at home may pay less.
The Maine State Grant
For 2026-27, the Maine State Grant pays up to $2,500 to full-time students and up to $1,250 to students enrolled at least half-time. Your Student Aid Index must be 10,000 or lower, and you apply simply by filing the FAFSA. The grant is generally only for Maine colleges. The exception is students in the New England Tuition Break program (FAME).
Regional Options for Maine Students
The New England Board of Higher Education’s Tuition Break program lowers tuition at some public colleges for students from other New England states.
- University of Rhode Island (Kingston): Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design and Fashion Business (Textile Marketing) are both regional tuition majors for Maine residents for 2026-27 (URI regional majors). URI’s regional tuition and fees are $29,844, against $39,746 for other out-of-state students. This is the main public route to a fashion merchandising degree for Maine students.
- Framingham State University (Massachusetts): It offers a fashion design major and lists a New England regional rate of $13,075 in tuition and fees for 2026-27 for students from Maine and four other states.
- Massachusetts College of Art and Design (Boston): It offers a Fashion Design BFA, and its New England and New York rate is $36,640 in tuition and fees.
Rules differ by school and by major, so confirm your rate with the admissions office before you apply. See our guides to fashion schools in Massachusetts and fashion schools in Rhode Island.
Fashion Careers in Maine
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 30 fashion designers in Maine, with a median wage of $49,530 in May 2025, well below the national median of $80,960. Buyers and purchasing agents, a common path for merchandising graduates, held 1,180 jobs in Maine, with a median of $77,630 (BLS). With so few design jobs in the state, plan for internships in larger fashion markets.
Fashion Schools in Maine: FAQs
Can you study fashion design in Maine?
Yes. Maine College of Art & Design in Portland offers a BFA in Textile & Fashion Design. Students learn weaving, knitting, textile printing and dyeing as well as draping, pattern drafting, garment construction and collection development.
How much does fashion school cost in Maine?
Maine College of Art & Design lists 2026-27 BFA tuition of $44,760 a year. After grants, federal figures put its average yearly cost at $40,801, including housing and food.
Does the Maine State Grant cover fashion school?
Eligible Maine residents can receive up to $2,500 a year as full-time students in 2026-27, if their Student Aid Index is 10,000 or lower. You apply by filing the FAFSA. The grant is generally only for Maine colleges, except for students in the New England Tuition Break program.
Can Maine students get lower tuition at fashion programs in other states?
Yes, at some public colleges. For 2026-27, the University of Rhode Island's Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design and Fashion Business (Textile Marketing) majors are regional tuition majors for Maine residents, at $29,844 in tuition and fees. Framingham State in Massachusetts lists a New England rate of $13,075.
Where can Maine students study fashion merchandising?
No Maine college reports a fashion merchandising program. The closest public option with a regional rate is the University of Rhode Island. Johnson & Wales University also offers a fashion merchandising degree online.
How much do fashion designers earn in Maine?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 30 fashion designers in Maine, with a median wage of $49,530 in May 2025. Buyers and purchasing agents earned a median of $77,630.
Fashion Schools in Nearby States
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. Program details and 2026-27 rates were checked on each school’s own site the same day. See our methodology. Spot an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it.