Also in South Carolina: All fashion schools in South Carolina
Only one South Carolina college reports a fashion design program to the U.S. Department of Education: Bob Jones University, a private university in Greenville. No public university in the state reports one. This page covers that program, then design schools in neighboring states, with what they cost and how the Academic Common Market may help.
South Carolina fashion design at a glance
- 1 college in the state reports fashion design: Bob Jones University, at $14,632 a year after grants.
- No public design degree in South Carolina, which is what can make an out-of-state public program eligible for the Academic Common Market.
- Merchandising instead? The University of South Carolina and South Carolina State both teach fashion merchandising.
- Jobs: 6,150 buyers and purchasing agents work in South Carolina, with a median wage of $75,550. BLS does not publish a state figure for fashion designers (May 2025).
Fashion Design programs in South Carolina
| School | City | Type | Tuition (in-state) | Average net price | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Jones Universityfederal data | Greenville | Private | $25,150 | $14,632 | Design |
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
One college in South Carolina reports a program covering fashion design. Net price, what students actually pay after grants, is $14,632 a year at Bob Jones University. Net price includes living costs, so students who live at home usually pay less. The full list of South Carolina fashion programs, including merchandising, is on our guide to fashion schools in South Carolina.
Bob Jones University (Greenville)
Federal data shows Bob Jones awarding bachelor’s degrees in fashion and apparel design. Search listings of its website describe an Apparel Design program covering garment design and construction, merchandising, a professional internship and a capstone showcase. We could not open those pages ourselves, so confirm the degree name, portfolio rules and 2026-27 tuition with the university. Federal figures list tuition of $25,150, a 68% graduation rate and median earnings of $49,158 across all majors.
Public, private or community college?
Every college on this list is private, so compare each school’s aid offer carefully against public programs in neighbouring states.
Design schools near South Carolina
These design-focused bachelor’s programs are in neighboring states. Rates are 2026-27 tuition, from each school’s own site.
| School | Program | Out-of-state cost | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia (Athens) | Fashion Merchandising, Product Development and Design emphasis | $15,902 per semester, before fees | Work samples when you apply to the emphasis |
| SCAD (Savannah and Atlanta) | B.F.A. in fashion | $42,975 a year, same for all students | Not required |
| NC State (Raleigh) | Fashion and Textile Design B.S. | $17,480.25 per semester with fees | Required, by November 1 |
| Appalachian State (Boone, NC) | Apparel Design and Merchandising B.S. | $13,629.50 per semester with fees | Sophomore portfolio review |
UGA offers some out-of-state students awards that cover the full difference between in-state and out-of-state costs. Auburn University in Alabama also offers an Apparel Design and Production Management B.S. Compare these on fashion design schools in Georgia and fashion design schools in North Carolina.
The Academic Common Market
South Carolina is a full member of the Academic Common Market. A resident can pay in-state tuition at a public university in another member state if the degree is not offered at a public university in South Carolina (SREB). No South Carolina public university reports a fashion design bachelor’s, so a design program in Georgia, Alabama or Tennessee may qualify. It only counts if that program is on SREB’s approved list for South Carolina residents, which we could not confirm.
North Carolina left the Academic Common Market in 2011, so NC State and App State charge full out-of-state rates. Private schools like SCAD are not part of it.
To use it: get admitted to the program without conditions, check SREB’s program search, then ask South Carolina’s ACM coordinator to certify you, with proof of residency. Allow one to two months.
Paying for it
South Carolina’s LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarships can only be used at eligible colleges in South Carolina, so they will not follow you to an out-of-state design school. If you plan to leave the state, the Academic Common Market and the out-of-state school’s own merit awards matter most. At Bob Jones, ask about state grants for private colleges and the university’s own aid.
Want merchandising instead?
The University of South Carolina’s Retailing B.S. has a Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations concentration, and South Carolina State University offers a Fashion Merchandising major with a required internship. Both are covered on our South Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest fashion design program in South Carolina?
Bob Jones University in Greenville has the lowest net price on this list, $14,632 a year.
How many South Carolina colleges offer fashion design?
One college on our list offers a program covering fashion design, and it is private.
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.
How we built this page
Schools come from U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions in fashion and apparel design. Costs, tuition and the table come from the College Scorecard, retrieved November 1, 2026. Net price is the average paid after grants by students who receive federal aid. Out-of-state program details and 2026-27 tuition were checked on each school’s own site. Job figures are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025. See our methodology.