Also in Texas: All fashion schools in Texas · Fashion merchandising schools in Texas · Fashion marketing schools in Texas
Thirteen Texas colleges report a fashion design or apparel-and-textiles track, more than offer merchandising. The options range from a community college associate degree at a very low price to a research university’s textiles and apparel program. This page compares them on cost and explains what each design track involves.
Fashion Design programs in Texas
| School | City | Type | Tuition (in-state) | Average net price | Program focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Community Collegefederal data | Austin | Public | $2,550 | $2,445 | Design |
| Houston City Collegefederal data | Houston | Public | $2,040 | $4,575 | Design and merchandising |
| El Paso Community Collegefederal data | El Paso | Public | $3,274 | $6,869 | Design and merchandising |
| Lamar Universityfederal data | Beaumont | Public | $8,905 | $7,984 | Design |
| Texas Woman’s Universityfederal data | Denton | Public | $9,000 | $11,060 | Design and merchandising |
| University of North Texasfederal data | Denton | Public | $11,309 | $15,358 | Design and merchandising |
| Dallas Collegefederal data | Dallas | Public | $2,970 | $16,414 | Design and merchandising |
| University of the Incarnate Wordfederal data | San Antonio | Private | $38,650 | $17,483 | Design and merchandising |
| The University of Texas at Austinfederal data | Austin | Public | $11,656 | $18,554 | Design |
| Texas Tech Universityfederal data | Lubbock | Public | $11,852 | $19,890 | Design |
| Tarleton State Universityfederal data | Stephenville | Public | $8,302 | $20,525 | Design |
| Wade Collegefederal data | Dallas | Private | $17,692 | $21,574 | Design |
| Baylor Universityfederal data | Waco | Private | $63,620 | $44,441 | Design and merchandising |
Source: tuition and average net price (yearly cost after grants, for students receiving federal aid) from College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, retrieved October 31, 2026. Program lists: IPEDS completions, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Each “federal data” link opens that school’s record.
What it costs
13 colleges in Texas report a program covering fashion design. Net price, what students actually pay after grants, ranges from $2,445 at Austin Community College to $44,441 at Baylor University, with a median of $16,414 a year. Net price includes living costs, so students who live at home usually pay less. Published tuition and the full list of Texas schools are on the Texas fashion schools guide, and the national fashion design directory lets you compare these programs with options in neighbouring states, which can be cheaper even at out-of-state rates.
Programs to look at first
The University of Texas at Austin offers the state’s strongest design-and-textiles program, at public in-state tuition. In Denton, the University of North Texas reports design alongside its large merchandising program ($15,358 average net), and Texas Woman’s University costs less, at $11,060. Texas Tech University in Lubbock is the West Texas university option at $19,890, and Baylor University in Waco is the most expensive on the list, at $44,441 after grants. Dallas College teaches design and merchandising at its El Centro campus for $2,970 a year in tuition, one of the lowest rates in the state, and Houston City College has the lowest published tuition in the state, $2,040. Wade College is a small private college close to the Dallas Market Center. Lamar University in Beaumont and Tarleton State in Stephenville are smaller public options, and the University of the Incarnate Word is San Antonio’s private choice.
Public, private or community college?
The 10 public colleges on this list average $12,367 a year in net price, against $27,832 for the 3 private ones. The lowest-priced private option, University of the Incarnate Word, still averages $17,483, so private study in fashion design usually costs more even after aid. The cheapest route to a bachelor’s is usually to start at a two-year college such as Austin Community College ($2,445 average net) and transfer to a public university such as Lamar University ($7,984). Ask both schools in advance which fashion courses transfer.
Design work in Texas
Most Texas fashion jobs are on the business side, but design roles exist: private-label and product development teams at Dallas-area retailers design the clothes sold under store brands, Austin’s direct-to-consumer brands employ product designers, and western wear and boot companies across the state design for a market that Texas leads. Technical design, the work of turning a sketch into precise specifications for factories, is one of the most employable design skills and is in demand wherever retailers develop their own products. Students who want to design for runway labels usually plan to move to New York or Los Angeles after graduating; the New York City guide covers that route.
Studying fashion design online
Design is the hardest part of fashion to study online, because construction, draping and fittings need a studio. If none of the programs above is within reach, a common route is to take general education and fashion business courses online and construction classes in person at the nearest community college. The online fashion degrees guide explains which parts of a design education travel and which do not.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest fashion design program in Texas?
Austin Community College in Austin has the lowest net price on this list, $2,445 a year.
How many Texas colleges offer fashion design?
13 colleges on our list offer a program covering fashion design, 10 of them public.
Do I need a portfolio for a fashion design program?
Most bachelor’s design programs ask for a portfolio or review one during the first year, while community college programs usually admit without one. Check each school’s requirements.