Apparel and Textiles at University of Delaware

University of Delaware's apparel and textiles program dramatically outperforms the national field, with first-year graduates earning $47,760—nearly $11,000 above the typical program and ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. That's a substantial premium for a field that often struggles with low starting wages. The 19% earnings growth to $56,971 by year four suggests graduates aren't hitting immediate salary ceilings, and the debt load of $23,250 is quite manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5. This means graduates could comfortably handle loan payments even while establishing their careers.

The state picture is harder to read since Delaware only has two programs in this field, but it's worth noting that Delaware's first-year starting salaries match UDel's exactly—suggesting either that the university dominates the state market or that Delaware's fashion and textile industry simply pays better than most states. Either way, staying in-state appears advantageous.

For parents concerned about fashion and textiles being a risky major, this program offers unusually strong outcomes. The combination of well-above-average earnings and reasonable debt makes this one of the safer bets in the field, particularly if your student has genuine interest in apparel product development, merchandising, or textile science rather than just a vague interest in "fashion."