Apparel and Textiles: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Apparel and Textiles is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the design, production, and real-world application of fabric-based products. It examines how clothing and textiles meet diverse human needs—ranging from functional and aesthetic to cultural and economic—through a lens that integrates science, creativity, and market dynamics.
- Textile Science and Materials: Explores the physical and chemical properties of fibers, yarns, and fabrics, focusing on performance, durability, sustainability, and innovation in material development.
- Apparel Design and Development: Covers the creative and technical processes involved in conceptualizing, prototyping, and refining clothing products for diverse markets and user groups.
- Consumer Behavior and Needs Analysis: Investigates psychological and social factors influencing how individuals select, use, and perceive apparel and textile goods in daily life.
- Production and Manufacturing Systems: Examines the technical and logistical aspects of transforming raw materials into finished textile products, including automation, efficiency, and quality control.
- Marketing and Distribution Strategies: Focuses on how apparel and textile products are positioned, promoted, and delivered to consumers across global and local supply chains.
- Sustainability and Ethical Practices: Addresses environmental impact, resource conservation, and responsible labor practices throughout the lifecycle of textile products.
- End-Use Applications and Performance Testing: Evaluates how textiles function in real-world conditions, including comfort, safety, and adaptability across industries such as fashion, sportswear, and technical textiles.
Apparel and Textiles Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Apparel and Textiles Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Apparel and Textiles degrees, including Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and Farm and Home Management Educators. 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 12,890 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1192 | $77,280 | $47,580 - $133,180 | 2,630 | N/A |
| Farm and Home Management Educators 25-9021 | $58,120 | $36,780 - $85,230 | 10,260 | $27.94 |
Apparel and Textiles Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $31,760 in Georgia to $116,435 in California—a 267% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Idaho, and Louisiana. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 12,890 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 Apparel and Textiles by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 66 institutions offering Apparel and Textiles 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 Apparel and Textiles is found at California State University (CSULB), Long Beach (99 graduates), Iowa State University (ISU) (92 graduates), University of Arkansas (U of A) (79 graduates), University of Kentucky (UK) (78 graduates), and Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (70 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,745 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
99 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
92 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
|
79 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
78 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
|
70 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
69 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
64 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
62 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
|
59 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
58 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
48 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
30 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Associate's
|
16 | New York, New York | Public | fitnyc.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | risd.edu |
| Framingham State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Framingham, Massachusetts | Public | framingham.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| College of the Sequoias (COS) |
Other Award
|
12 | Visalia, California | Public | cos.edu |
| Sierra College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | Rocklin, California | Public | sierracollege.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
10 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Allan Hancock College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Santa Maria, California | Public | hancockcollege.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Academy of Art University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | San Francisco, California | Private | academyart.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Fullerton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullcoll.edu |
| Delaware State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Dover, Delaware | Public | desu.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| Stephens College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Columbia, Missouri | Private | stephens.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Master's
|
2 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Bradley University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | bradley.edu |
| El Camino Community College District (ECC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Torrance, California | Public | elcamino.edu |
| Mendocino College |
Other Award
|
1 | Ukiah, California | Public | mendocino.edu |
| Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Monterey, California | Public | mpc.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Apparel and Textiles programs
How much can I earn with a Apparel and Textiles degree?
Salaries for Apparel and Textiles graduates vary by role and location. Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,280 annually, while Farm and Home Management Educators earn around $58,120. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $116,435 compared to $31,760 in Georgia. Approximately 12,890 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 Apparel and Textiles programs?
Currently 67 accredited institutions offer Apparel and Textiles degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include California State University (CSULB), Long Beach (99 graduates), Iowa State University (ISU) (92 graduates), and University of Arkansas (U of A) (79 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 Apparel and Textiles growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,539 in 2010 to a peak of 2,118 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,745 in 2023-24. This represents a 31% 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 Apparel and Textiles degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, Farm and Home Management Educators, . Related occupations employ approximately 12,890 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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