Best Schools for Apparel and Textiles

Apparel and Textiles graduates earn a median of $35,695 within two years of graduation, ranking #145 out of 292 tracked majors — 1% above the median across all fields. There are 52 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 2,669 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Delaware graduates earn $49,555 while Liberty University graduates earn $20,687 — a $28,868 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Apparel and Textiles graduates see an average 3% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

52
Schools
$35,695
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#145
of 292 Majors
2,669
Graduates

Public vs Private: Apparel and Textiles

Public (48 schools)
$35,845
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (4 schools)
$33,907
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Apparel and Textiles, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Apparel and Textiles by State

Top Apparel and Textiles Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
U

University of Delaware

Newark, DE · Public

$49,555
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,866
Grads: 97
Acceptance: 65.1%
#2
I

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public

$45,249
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,519
Grads: 95
Acceptance: 80.4%
#3
F

Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY · Public

$43,638
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,008
Grads: 72
Acceptance: 57.6%
#4
T

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$43,575
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,739
Grads: 60
Acceptance: 29.1%
#5
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$43,426
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 43.4%
#6
N

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,025
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 70.5%
#7
U

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR · Public

$42,309
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,037
Grads: 75
Acceptance: 71.7%
#8
O

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$42,012
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,186
Grads: 134
Acceptance: 50.8%
#9
R

Rhode Island School of Design

Providence, RI · Private

$41,937
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 13.8%
#10
U

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 41.6%
#11
U

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 94.4%
#12
U

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO · Public

$41,007
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,512
Grads: 105
Acceptance: 77.0%
#13
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$40,768
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,641
Grads: 65
Acceptance: 96.2%
#14
F

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$40,455
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,397
Grads: 207
Acceptance: 25.4%
#15
N

North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND · Public

$39,909
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,136
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 95.8%
#16
K

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

$39,729
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,025
Grads: 53
Acceptance: 79.4%
#17
I

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

$39,585
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,681
Grads: 159
Acceptance: 89.1%
#18
C

Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ · Private

$39,009
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 96.7%
#19
O

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, OH · Public

$38,829
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,157
Grads: 56
Acceptance: 84.8%
#20
U

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public

$38,829
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,151
Grads: 79
Acceptance: 77.1%
#21
E

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC · Public

$37,208
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,462
Grads: 44
Acceptance: 90.1%
#22
O

Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Stillwater, OK · Public

$37,208
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 70.9%
#23
U

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC · Public

$37,054
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,726
Grads: 76
Acceptance: 89.8%
#24
O

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

$36,848
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 78.8%
#25
O

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

$36,848
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 68.4%
#26
C

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public

$36,042
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,843
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 90.2%
#27
T

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL · Public

$35,327
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,189
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 75.8%
#28
U

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$34,847
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,317
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 92.4%
#29
S

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY · Public

$34,526
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,887
Grads: 60
Acceptance: 70.2%
#30
U

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public

$34,420
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,588
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 77.1%
#31
A

Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,625
Grads: 46
Acceptance: 50.5%
#32
C

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,140
Grads: 140
Acceptance: 73.7%
#33
S

Savannah College of Art and Design

Savannah, GA · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,839
Grads: 112
Acceptance: 83.7%
#34
U

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,645
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 79.1%
#35
W

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public

$33,637
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,775
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 84.7%
#36
W

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,657
Grads: 70
Acceptance: 85.4%
#37
C

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

$31,855
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,821
Grads: 74
Acceptance: 89.6%
#38
F

Framingham State University

Framingham, MA · Public

$31,852
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,281
Grads: 72
Acceptance: 84.9%
#39
M

Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO · Public

$31,719
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,957
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 91.0%
#40
U

University of Akron Main Campus

Akron, OH · Public

$31,670
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 70.9%
#41
A

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC · Public

$31,423
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,405
Grads: 35
Acceptance: 88.6%
#42
U

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$31,133
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,695
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 77.0%
#43
W

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public

$30,409
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,351
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 82.0%
#44
I

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,232
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 91.5%
#45
S

South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,287
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 98.7%
#46
M

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN · Public

$27,536
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,383
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 68.0%
#47
G

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, GA · Public

$27,126
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,482
Grads: 79
Acceptance: 89.6%
#48
W

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public

$26,585
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,816
Grads: 39
Acceptance: 97.0%
#49
U

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI · Public

$26,519
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,349
Grads: 35
Acceptance: 69.7%
#50
N

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Las Cruces, NM · Public

$26,353
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 75.7%

Showing top 50 of 52 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Apparel and Textiles?
University of Delaware ranks #1 for Apparel and Textiles with median graduate earnings of $49,555 within two years. There are 52 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Apparel and Textiles graduates earn?
Apparel and Textiles graduates earn an average of $35,695 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $20,687 to $49,555 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Apparel and Textiles program?
The average acceptance rate across Apparel and Textiles programs is 76.2%. The most selective program is at Rhode Island School of Design with a 13.8% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Apparel and Textiles?
Private Apparel and Textiles programs average $33,907 in early earnings vs $35,845 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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