Guides for Ohio: Fashion design schools in Ohio
Ohio fashion schools at a glance (2026)
- 11 colleges report fashion design, apparel or merchandising graduates: 8 public and 3 private.
- Lowest yearly cost after grants: Ohio University Lancaster, $6,593.
- Public universities after grants: $6,593 to $24,917 a year.
- Design pick: Kent State’s School of Fashion. Co-op pick: University of Cincinnati. Merchandising pick: Ohio State.
Eleven Ohio colleges report graduates in fashion design, apparel and textiles, or fashion merchandising to the U.S. Department of Education. Nine are public, including Kent State’s School of Fashion and the University of Cincinnati’s co-op fashion design program. The table below compares all eleven on tuition, yearly cost after grants, admission, graduation and earnings.
Compare the 11 Fashion Schools in Ohio
| School | City | Type | Tuition/yr | Yearly cost after grants | Admit rate | Grad rate | Median earnings | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hocking Collegefederal data | Nelsonville | Public | $5,690 | $16,748 | - | 34% | $42,530 | Design + MerchAssociate |
| Ohio University Lancasterfederal data | Lancaster | Public | $6,552 | $6,593 | - | 14% | $61,938 | Design & TextilesBachelor's |
| Youngstown State Universityfederal data | Youngstown | Public | $11,444 | $9,161 | 84% | 52% | $46,691 | MerchandisingBachelor's |
| Kent State University at Kentfederal data | Kent | Public | $13,628 | $20,294 | 86% | 57% | $51,178 | Design + MerchBachelor's, master's |
| The Ohio State UniversityThe biggest school on this list, with 45,638 students in Columbus.federal data | Columbus | Public | $13,641 | $17,269 | 61% | 87% | $67,080 | Design + MerchBachelor's |
| University of Cincinnatifederal data | Cincinnati | Public | $14,394 | $24,917 | 85% | 75% | $60,832 | Design & TextilesBachelor's |
| Ohio Universityfederal data | Athens | Public | $14,582 | $20,666 | 85% | 65% | $61,938 | Design + MerchBachelor's, master's |
| Bowling Green State Universityfederal data | Bowling Green | Public | $14,892 | $21,453 | 81% | 65% | $52,269 | Design + MerchBachelor's |
| Ashland Universityfederal data | Ashland | Private | $33,220 | $23,678 | 76% | 59% | $56,321 | MerchandisingBachelor's |
| Ursuline Collegefederal data | Pepper Pike | Private | $39,780 | $17,186 | 75% | 61% | $62,042 | Design + MerchBachelor's |
| Columbus College of Art & Designfederal data | Columbus | Private | $42,200 | $27,723 | 68% | 58% | $47,378 | Design & TextilesBachelor's |
Showing all 11 schools
Ohio Fashion Schools Worth a Close Look
Kent State University (Kent)
Kent State’s School of Fashion offers a Fashion Design B.A. and a Fashion Merchandising B.S. Design students can later apply for the BFA. The university says the design program is accredited by NASAD.
Admission: Both majors are selective. First-year applicants need a 2.750 GPA. No portfolio is needed to get in. Design students build one in their last two semesters, and merchandising students must add a minor.
Every student must complete a study-away experience, with options in New York City, Florence and Paris. The Kent State University Museum on campus holds more than 30,000 fashion and textile objects. 2026-27 tuition is $13,848 a year for Ohio residents and $24,298 for non-residents, before program fees (Kent State tuition).
University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati)
UC’s Fashion Design B.S. in the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) takes five years. That is because every student joins UC’s co-op program and works full time in the industry for five semesters before graduating. The program has its own Fashion Technology Center.
2026-27 tuition is $14,824 a year for Ohio residents and $30,158 for non-residents. DAAP adds a program fee of up to $750 a term (UC costs). UC also lists a lower “Metro” rate ($15,424 a year) for some students from nearby areas, so ask whether you qualify. UC’s yearly cost after grants, $24,917, is the highest among Ohio’s public universities.
The Ohio State University (Columbus)
Ohio State’s Fashion and Retail Studies B.S. has a merchandising track and a product development track. It is a business-side degree, not a studio design degree, and it requires an internship. An industry advisory board of nearly 50 retail veterans supports the program.
Ohio State has the highest graduation rate on this list (87%, for the whole university). 2026-27 tuition and fees for new Ohio residents are $7,025 per semester, frozen for four years. Non-residents pay a $15,111 surcharge per semester on top (Ohio State fees).
Ohio University (Athens)
Ohio University’s Retail and Fashion Merchandising B.S. mixes creative work, such as product development and promotion, with buying and planning. Students complete a full-semester internship. The program has a textiles lab, a product development room and a historic clothing collection. 2026-27 tuition is $7,401 per semester for Ohio residents (OHIO Guarantee).
Bowling Green State University
BGSU’s Fashion Merchandising and Product Development B.S. is accredited by TAPAC, the textile and apparel accreditor. Students complete at least two internships. They can also spend a year in New York as visiting students at FIT.
Ursuline College (Pepper Pike)
Ursuline, a small private college near Cleveland, has separate fashion design and fashion merchandising programs. No portfolio is required to apply. In its 3+1 option, students spend their third year at FIT in New York and also earn an FIT associate degree. Aid brings its $39,780 tuition down to $17,186 a year after grants.
Other Ohio options
- Columbus College of Art & Design is the state’s private art and design college with a fashion program. Its site blocked our check, so confirm program details and current tuition with CCAD.
- Ashland University offers a Fashion Merchandising and Brand Management BSBA, with study options at FIT or in Paris.
- Youngstown State University reports merchandising graduates in federal data. At $9,161 a year after grants, it is the second-lowest-cost option here.
- Hocking College in Nelsonville offers a two-year Fashion Design and Retail Merchandising associate degree and a certificate, with a sewing lab and an annual fashion show.
Fashion Design vs. Merchandising in Ohio
Design. For studio fashion design, the main choices are Kent State, the University of Cincinnati, Columbus College of Art & Design and Ursuline. Compare them on our page for fashion design schools in Ohio.
Merchandising and product development. Ohio State, Ohio University, Bowling Green, Ashland and Youngstown State teach the business side of fashion. Kent State and Ursuline teach both design and merchandising.
How Much Does Fashion School Cost in Ohio?
The yearly cost after grants is the average a student on federal aid pays for a full year, including housing and food.
| Type of school | Yearly cost after grants |
|---|---|
| Public universities and campuses (8) | $6,593 to $24,917 |
| Two-year college: Hocking College (1) | $16,748 |
| Private colleges (3) | $17,186 to $27,723 |
Ohio State freezes tuition and mandatory fees for four years for new in-state students, and Kent State and Ohio University publish guaranteed rates for each entering class. Check each school’s guarantee before comparing offers.
Paying for Fashion School in Ohio
- FAFSA. File it every year to be considered for federal, state and school aid.
- Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG). Ohio’s need-based grant. For 2025-26 it required a Student Aid Index of 3,750 or less and household income of $96,000 or less. Amounts are set in the state budget, so ask your school’s aid office for its 2026-27 amount.
- Academic Common Market: Ohio is not a member, so it does not lower tuition at out-of-state fashion programs.
Routes: Transfer, Co-op and a Year at FIT
Ohio has several ways to get New York experience without moving there for four years. Bowling Green, Ursuline and Ashland let students spend a year at FIT. Kent State requires every student to study away, and New York City is one option. UC’s co-op places design students in paid industry jobs for five semesters.
For a lower-cost start, Hocking College’s associate degree or a regional campus such as Ohio University Lancaster can lead to a bachelor’s elsewhere. Ask the four-year school in advance which credits will transfer. Online options are compared in our online fashion degrees guide.
Fashion Careers in Ohio
| Job | Jobs in Ohio | Median pay in Ohio | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion designers | 90 | $82,050 | $80,960 |
| Buyers and purchasing agents (all industries) | 21,640 | $76,410 | $77,710 |
Figures are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2025 (BLS OEWS). Few designers work in Ohio, but buying and merchandising jobs are common. Abercrombie & Fitch has its head office in New Albany, and Bath & Body Works in Columbus, according to their SEC filings.
Fashion Schools Near Ohio
Students near the borders can compare programs in Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. If you live near Cincinnati but outside Ohio, ask the University of Cincinnati whether its lower Metro rate applies to you.
More Ohio guides: Fashion Design Schools in Ohio
Closed and Ended Programs
- The Art Institute of Ohio–Cincinnati closed with the other Art Institutes campuses run by Dream Center Education Holdings, which went into federal receivership in January 2019 (closed-school list).
- The University of Akron no longer lists a fashion major on its majors page. In August 2018 local news reported that Akron was phasing out its fashion merchandising tracks for low enrollment (Ideastream). We no longer list it in the table, although it reported graduates in recent federal data while current students finished.
Fashion Schools in Ohio: FAQs
What is the cheapest fashion school in Ohio?
By yearly cost after grants, Ohio University Lancaster is lowest at about $6,593, followed by Youngstown State University ($9,161), per U.S. Department of Education data. By published tuition, Hocking College is lowest at $5,690 a year for Ohio residents.
What is the best fashion design school in Ohio?
It depends on what you want. Kent State's School of Fashion offers a Fashion Design B.A. with a later BFA option and required study away. The University of Cincinnati's five-year Fashion Design B.S. includes five semesters of paid co-op work. Columbus College of Art & Design and Ursuline College are private options.
Do Ohio fashion schools require a portfolio?
Not at the main programs we checked. Kent State admits fashion design students on GPA (2.750 minimum) and has them build a portfolio in their last two semesters. Ursuline lists no portfolio for admission. Check Columbus College of Art & Design directly.
Can I spend a year at FIT while studying in Ohio?
Yes. Bowling Green State University, Ursuline College and Ashland University all offer a year in New York at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Ursuline students on its 3+1 track also earn an FIT associate degree.
How much does fashion school cost per year in Ohio?
For 2026-27, Ohio resident tuition is $13,848 a year at Kent State and $14,824 at the University of Cincinnati, before fees. After grants, the average yearly cost at Ohio's public universities ranges from $6,593 to $24,917, per federal data.
Do fashion designers earn a lot in Ohio?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 90 fashion designers in Ohio in May 2025, with a median wage of $82,050, close to the U.S. median of $80,960. Buyers and purchasing agents are far more common, with 21,640 jobs at a median of $76,410.
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 names, admission rules and 2026-27 tuition 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.