2026 Best Value Apparel Textile Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Apparel Textile Studies associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 137 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Apparel Textile Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Minneapolis Community And Technical College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Apparel Textile Studies associate's degree schools in the United States. Located in Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,161. Students borrow a median of $24,036 to complete their Apparel Textile Studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,086. Set against $24,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Minneapolis Community And Technical College report
A rank of #2 makes Santa Ana College one of the best values in the United States. Santa Ana College is a public school based in Santa Ana, CA. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete their Apparel Textile Studies program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,552 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Santa Ana College
You'll get strong value at San Joaquin Delta College, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Stockton, CA, San Joaquin Delta College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete their Apparel Textile Studies program here. Median earnings reach $43,212 ten years out. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full San Joaquin Delta College report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fashion Institute Of Technology earned it the #4 place in the United States. Located in New York, NY, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,174, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. Fashion Institute Of Technology Apparel Textile Studies students take on a median of $16,583 in debt. Median earnings reach $62,696 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $16,583 median debt. Fashion Institute Of Technology has an acceptance rate of 60%. Read the full report on Fashion Institute Of Technology
Out of the 137 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Fresno City College landed the #5 spot. Located in Fresno, CA, Fresno City College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. The median Apparel Textile Studies program debt is $7,234. Median earnings reach $37,361 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Fresno City College
El Camino Community College District ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools. This public school is set in Torrance, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $1,144, with out-of-state students paying around $7,630. El Camino Community College District alumni report median earnings of $41,589 a decade after entry. More on El Camino Community College District
Academy Of Art University offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Set in San Francisco, CA, Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,736. Graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Median earnings reach $39,008 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Academy Of Art University
College Of The Sequoias came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Located in Visalia, CA, College Of The Sequoias is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Typical Apparel Textile Studies student debt is $10,288. Median earnings reach $39,092 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt. Read the full report on College Of The Sequoias
Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Set in Los Angeles, CA, Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,133 to complete their Apparel Textile Studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles report
University Of Hawaii Maui College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools. Read more about University Of Hawaii Maui College
Orange Coast College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Orange Coast College
El Centro College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on El Centro College
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Indiana University Bloomington report
Washington State University placed #14 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. See the full Washington State University profile
Carson Newman College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Carson Newman College
Iowa State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools. Get the full Iowa State University report
University Of Rhode Island landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
Middle Tennessee State University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Middle Tennessee State University report
University Of Kentucky placed #19 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
Suny College At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Suny College At Buffalo
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Northern Iowa report
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #22 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
University Of North Alabama offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. See the full University Of North Alabama profile
Los Angeles Trade Technical College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools. Get the full Los Angeles Trade Technical College report
West Valley College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. More on West Valley College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Apparel Textile Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Arizona State University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about Arizona State University
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #27 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #28 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Colorado State University Fort Collins
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #29 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. See the full Ohio State University Main Campus profile
Ohio University Lancaster Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Read the full report on Ohio University Lancaster Campus
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #31 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Stout
Ohio University Main Campus placed #32 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. More on Ohio University Main Campus
Georgia Southern University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools. See the full Georgia Southern University profile
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. See the full Savannah College Of Art And Design profile
The University Of Alabama landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full The University Of Alabama profile
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools. More on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools. Read the full report on University Of Central Oklahoma
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full California State Polytechnic University Pomona report
Cuesta College
Cuesta College placed #40 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Cuesta College
Indiana State University landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Indiana State University profile
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #43 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
East Carolina University placed #44 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. Read more about East Carolina University
New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #45 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
Irvine Valley College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. See the full Irvine Valley College profile
Liberty University came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Liberty University
American River College placed #48 among the best-value Apparel Textile Studies schools in the United States. More on American River College
California State University Long Beach offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. More on California State University Long Beach
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Carnegie Mellon University
Related Apparel Textile Studies Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Apparel Textile Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Apparel Textile Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Apparel Textile Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Apparel Textile Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Apparel Textile Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Apparel Textile Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Apparel Textile Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 137 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).