Fashion Merchandising: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Fashion merchandising is a dynamic field focused on the strategic promotion and distribution of apparel and accessories across wholesale channels. It equips professionals with the expertise to drive brand visibility, secure retail partnerships, and manage supply chain relationships through data-informed marketing and sales strategies.
- Wholesaling strategies: Core principles and operational models for distributing fashion products in bulk to retailers, including pricing structures, order fulfillment, and inventory management.
- Brand promotion and campaign development: Design and execution of targeted marketing initiatives to elevate brand recognition and generate retailer demand in competitive markets.
- Wholesale advertising and media planning: Techniques for creating compelling visual and digital content tailored to wholesale audiences, including trade show presentations and B2B digital campaigns.
- Sales and negotiation techniques: Advanced communication and closing strategies for building long-term relationships with retail buyers and securing supply agreements.
- Customer relations and account management: Best practices for maintaining strong, collaborative partnerships with wholesale clients through service excellence and responsive support systems.
Fashion Merchandising Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Fashion Merchandising Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Fashion Merchandising degrees, including Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,266,860 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 41-4012 | $66,780 | $37,860 - $134,470 | 1,266,860 | $32.11 |
Fashion Merchandising Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $54,970 in Arkansas to $79,190 in Washington—a 44% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,266,860 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Fashion Merchandising by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 83 institutions offering Fashion Merchandising programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Fashion Merchandising is found at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) (1,042 graduates), Kent State University, Kent (214 graduates), FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) (161 graduates), LIM College (LIM) (138 graduates), and Marist College (104 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,847 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
1,042 | New York, New York | Public | fitnyc.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
214 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) |
Associate's
|
161 | Los Angeles, California | Private | fidm.edu |
| LIM College (LIM) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
138 | New York, New York | Private | limcollege.edu |
| Marist College |
Bachelor's
|
104 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
83 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
79 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
67 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology (NYCCT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
65 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | citytech.cuny.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
59 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
|
58 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Sacred Heart University (SHU) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | sacredheart.edu |
| Academy of Art University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | San Francisco, California | Private | academyart.edu |
| Thomas Jefferson University |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | jefferson.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
30 | New York, New York | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| The New School |
Associate's
|
29 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| Brookdale Community College |
Associate's
|
19 | Lincroft, New Jersey | Public | brookdalecc.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| Bridgerland Technical College (BTECH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Logan, Utah | Public | btech.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
17 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | New York, New York | Private | mmm.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
15 | Woodland Park, New Jersey | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Lynn University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Boca Raton, Florida | Private | lynn.edu |
| Lasell University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Newton, Massachusetts | Private | lasell.edu |
| Genesee Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Batavia, New York | Public | genesee.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| Long Island University (LIU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Brookville, New York | Private | liu.edu |
| High Point University (HPU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | High Point, North Carolina | Private | highpoint.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Mercyhurst University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | mercyhurst.edu |
| Dominican University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | dom.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Seattle Pacific University (SPU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Seattle, Washington | Private | spu.edu |
| Mount Mary University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | mtmary.edu |
| Eastern Illinois University (EIU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Charleston, Illinois | Public | eiu.edu |
| Stevenson University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Owings Mills, Maryland | Private | stevenson.edu |
| Fisher College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | fisher.edu |
| Marymount University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Arlington, Virginia | Private | marymount.edu |
| Phoenix College (PC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | phoenixcollege.edu |
| Immaculata University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Immaculata, Pennsylvania | Private | immaculata.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Stephens College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Columbia, Missouri | Private | stephens.edu |
| SUNY Westchester Community College |
Associate's
|
5 | Valhalla, New York | Public | sunywcc.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | jwu.edu |
| Harding University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Searcy, Arkansas | Private | harding.edu |
| Northwood University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Midland, Michigan | Private | northwood.edu |
| Herkimer County Community College |
Associate's
|
4 | Herkimer, New York | Public | herkimer.edu |
| Meredith College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | meredith.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| St. Thomas University (STU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Miami Gardens, Florida | Private | stu.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
3 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Middlesex Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Bedford, Massachusetts | Public | middlesex.mass.edu |
| University of the District of Columbia (UDC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Washington, District of Columbia | Public | udc.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Associate's
|
2 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| Vincennes University (VU) |
Associate's
|
2 | Vincennes, Indiana | Public | vinu.edu |
| Adrian College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Adrian, Michigan | Private | adrian.edu |
| University of Southern Mississippi (USM) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Public | usm.edu |
| Mars Hill University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Mars Hill, North Carolina | Private | mhu.edu |
| Ashland University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Ashland, Ohio | Private | ashland.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
|
1 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Brenau University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Gainesville, Georgia | Private | brenau.edu |
| Alexandria Technical & Community College (ATCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Alexandria, Minnesota | Public | alextech.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| Ursuline College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Pepper Pike, Ohio | Private | ursuline.edu |
| Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) |
Associate's
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | ccp.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Fashion Merchandising programs
How much can I earn with a Fashion Merchandising degree?
Salaries for Fashion Merchandising graduates vary by role and location. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products earn a median of $66,780 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $79,190 compared to $54,970 in Arkansas. Approximately 1,266,860 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Fashion Merchandising programs?
Currently 83 accredited institutions offer Fashion Merchandising degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) (1,042 graduates), Kent State University, Kent (214 graduates), and FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) (161 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Fashion Merchandising growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 5,474 in 2010 to a peak of 3,924 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,847 in 2023-24. This represents a 48% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Fashion Merchandising degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products. Related occupations employ approximately 1,266,860 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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