Apparel and Textiles at Fashion Institute of Technology

Fashion Institute of Technology's Apparel and Textiles program outperforms most competitors despite what might initially seem like modest starting salaries. At $40,463 in first-year earnings, graduates earn nearly $10,000 more than the national median for this field and over $6,000 more than other New York programs. That's particularly impressive considering FIT's 58% admission rate makes it accessible to students who might not get into elite private colleges. The debt burden of $21,165 is manageable—about 10% lower than both national and state medians—and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 means graduates owe roughly half their first-year salary, which is quite reasonable for a creative field.

The real story emerges in the earnings trajectory. Four years out, median earnings jump to $55,878, representing 38% growth. That acceleration suggests graduates are moving into design, merchandising, or management roles where industry connections matter, and FIT's location in New York's fashion district clearly provides an advantage. While this sits at the 60th percentile among New York programs (which includes just four schools), it crushes the next-highest program by nearly $28,000—suggesting the state percentile may be skewed by one outlier.

For students serious about fashion careers, this represents solid value. You're paying reasonable tuition for direct access to one of the world's fashion capitals, with earnings that meaningfully exceed alternatives and debt that won't derail your twenties.