Fashion Careers Start at Columbia
Shape the Future of Fashion at Columbia College Chicago
At Columbia College Chicago, you'll find a fashion school that blends creativity, business, and innovation across two distinct programs — the Fashion Studies BA and the Fashion Design BFA.The Fashion Studies BA (with concentrations in merchandising and product development) teaches you to think like both a designer and a marketer.
The Fashion Design BFA goes more in-depth — exploring areas such as inclusivity, sustainability, wearable tech, and smart textiles, culminating in a thesis collection where you'll bring a full runway-ready project to life.
Across both fashion degrees, you'll get experience designing, prototyping, making patterns, sourcing fabrics, and creating market-ready concepts. Your coursework will explore topics such as:
- Trend-spotting
- Visual merchandising
- Fashion marketing
- Apparel design
- Sustainability
- Sourcing and supply chain
Plus, you'll have the opportunity to expand your perspective though short-term, faculty-led study-away programs in fashion capitals such as Los Angeles, New York, London, Athens, and Berlin. Connect with us and begin your future at a top art college with hands-on fashion majors.
Learn More About Columbia College Chicago
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Gain a Competitive Edge in Creative Arts at Columbia
Live in a City at the Forefront of Arts and Culture
At Columbia, your campus is the city. Our South Loop location puts you steps from top retailers, fashion brands, and design firms, meaning inspiration and opportunity are never far away. Chicago is a living lab where you'll test ideas, build meaningful connections, and gain real-world experience.
Plus, as a full-time student, you'll have a Ventra U-Pass, giving you unlimited access to the city's transit system so you can explore every area of Chicago with ease. From grabbing food with friends to walking through exhibits at the Art Institute, the city is part of everyday life.
A High-Level Look at Our Fashion Majors
Earn Your BFA in Fashion Design or BA in Fashion Studies
Complete a Yearlong, Hands-On Capstone
Study in Fashion Capitals Such as London and Milan
Creative Careers Start at Columbia
Columbia grads launch creative careers across industries — from design and media to performance, business, and tech. Ninety-six percent of recent graduates report being employed or achieving success in creative practice, and you'll graduate career ready and connected too.
Columbia grads who earn their fashion degrees here are prepared for a wide range of creative careers, including buyer, fashion designer, fashion merchandiser, jewelry designer, marketing professional, pattern maker.
"Columbia laid a strong foundation for my fashion career. I refined my skills in drawing, sewing, and patternmaking, while gaining a deep understanding of textile properties and their applications."
— Alexander Knox '15, Fashion Design BFA
Columbia Makes Art School in Chicago More Affordable
A Columbia degree is an investment in your creativity—and we're committed to making it accessible. With 99 percent of first-year students receiving financial aid, you'll find the support you need to focus on what matters most: creating.
Ways Columbia helps you save:
- Merit-Based Scholarships: You're automatically considered for these when you apply to Columbia.
- Talent-Based Scholarships: You can choose to apply by submitting a portfolio or completing an audition.
- Visit and FAFSA Awards: Up to $8,000 over four years for visiting campus, plus $1,000 just for filing the FAFSA.
Faculty Spotlight: Dana Connell
Dana Connell, Associate Professor of Fashion, brings real-world industry experience into the classroom. Through hands-on projects with nonprofits such as Bridge to Success, she empowers her students to design with purpose — blending creativity, sustainability, and social impact.
“Our students at Columbia learn by doing, not by me standing up and talking, or me giving them a test.”