Although the myriad college rankings released each year can’t capture the richness and complexity of the FIT experience, these lists are often influential with students and parents in choosing colleges. FIT ranked at or near the top of numerous recent lists. Here are some of them.
Global business magazine CEOWORLD considers FIT the top fashion school in the U.S. and #2 in the world, based on global reputation and influence, placement rates, and data from more than 40,000 students, 50,000 industry professionals, and 30,000 recruiters.
College Magazine ranked FIT #1 on its 2020 list of 10 Colleges for Aspiring Fashion Designers. The site noted prestigious alumni like Nina Garcia, Michael Kors, and Calvin Klein, FIT’s central location on New York City’s Seventh Avenue, the choice of specializations within the Fashion Design major, and robust extracurriculars.
In Payscale.com’s 2020–21 College Salary Report, FIT jumped to number 10 among two-year programs at U.S. colleges, based on mid-career (10 or more years out of college) alumni salaries. Based on 3.5 million alumni surveys nationwide, Payscale determined the median mid-career salary for an FIT associate’s degree graduate to be $77,200. Among alumni with bachelor’s degrees, FIT alumni are in the top 5 percent nationwide, with a median mid-career salary of $107,900.
Niche, a respected site for college comparisons, ranks FIT highly in many categories: diversity, value, location, and safety, and for the quality of its business and design programs. FIT is ranked #8 among all public colleges in New York State and #21 among all schools in the nation that offer design programs. FIT also comes in at #7 of more than 1,000 on the list of Best College Locations in America, for its enviable address at the heart of New York City’s Fashion District. To compile its rankings, Niche uses rigorous criteria including U.S. Department of Education data, plus millions of student and alumni reviews.
FIT ranked second on a list of the top institutions with online programs in New York, compiled by Best Value Schools. At FIT, students can enroll in a one-year Fashion Business Management program or a two-year International Trade and Marketing program—and the curriculum and faculty are the same online as for the traditional programs. The site based its assessment on job placement rates, faculty experience, graduate success, number of online programs, graduation rate, options for financial aid, and student feedback.
According to Learn.org, FIT is #35 among all colleges nationally for its business programs. Criteria included academic and career resources, quality of education, faculty, and more. Learn.org cited the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology’s high retention rates, as well as the Bakers’ generous scholarship program, which lowers the already affordable cost of tuition for high-achieving, community-minded students.