Colleges like the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and Columbia College are popular among aspiring artists and designers of all kinds. They are often listed among America’s top art and design schools based on everything from quality of education to cost and convenience.
Continue reading to find out which Illinois schools are top-tier and what they have to offer.
Top Fashion School Programs Illinois – Chicago
DePaul University
Student Population: 16,052
Backdrop: Urban, 36-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Costume Design (students focus on Fashion, Drawing, Costume Technology, Art), B.F.A. Costume Technology
Columbia College Chicago
Student Population: 12,500
Backdrop: Urban, Downtown Chicago Campus
Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Design, B.F.A. Fashion Design, B.A. Fashion Business, B.A. Fashion Studies
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Student Population: 2,577
Backdrop: Urban, Downtown Chicago Campus
Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Fashion Design, B.F.A. Fiber and Material Studies, Master of Design in Fashion, Body and Garment, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Fashion Body and Garment
The Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago
Student Population: 2,102
Backdrop: Urban, small campus
Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Fashion Design, B.A. Fashion Marketing & Management, B.F.A. Interior Design, B.F.A. Illustration & Design, A.A.S. Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Retailing Diploma
Top Fashion School Programs Illinois – Other Cities and Towns
Glen Ellyn
College of DuPage
Student Population: 26,000+
Backdrop: Village, 273-acre campus, easy access to Chicago
Degrees Offered: A.A.S Fashion Design, A.A.S. Fashion Merchandising, A.A.S Fashion Apparel Production, Fashion Design Certificate, Fashion Merchandising Certificate, Fashion Apparel Production Certificate, Fashion Entrepreneurial Certificate
DeKalb
Northern Illinois University
Student Population: 18,917
Backdrop: Rural, 546-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B.S. Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising, M.S. Apparel Studies, Minor Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising
Normal
Illinois State University
Student Population: 18,594
Backdrop: Small city, 490-acre campus
Degrees Offered: B.S. Apparel Design/Product Development, B.S. Merchandising, A.A.S Apparel Design/Product Development, A.A.S. Merchandising
Palatine
Harper College
Student Population: 15,000+
Backdrop: Village, 200-acre easy access to Chicago
Degrees Offered: A.A.S Fashion Design, A.A.S. Fashion Merchandising, Advanced Patternmaking Certificate, Apparel Construction Certificate, Textiles Certificate
Carbondale
Southern Illinois University
Student Population: 15,000
Backdrop: Rural, 1,136-acre campus, easy access to St. Louis
Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion Design and Merchandising with specializations in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Stylist, B.S. Interior Design
Bourbonnais
Olivet Nazarene University
Student Population: 4,600
Backdrop: Village, 250-acre campus, easy access to Chicago
Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion Merchandising, B.S. Interior Design, Fashion Merchandising Minor, Interior Design Minor
River Forest
Dominican University
Student Population: 1,953
Backdrop: Suburban, 37-acre campus, easy access to Chicago
Degrees Offered: Bachelor's Apparel Design with concentrations in Fashion Development, Surface Design, and Dress and Textile Studies, Bachelor's Apparel Merchandising, Minor Apparel Merchandising
Schaumburg
The Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg
Student Population: 1,090
Backdrop: Village, small campus, easy access Chicago
Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Fashion Design, B.A. Fashion Marketing & Management, A.A.S. Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Retailing Diploma, B.F.A. Illustration & Design
More Programs to Consider:
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Sources
Peterson’s
Princeton Review
U.S. News & World Report College Rankings
