The Pacific Northwest has its own eclectic fashion community, which you can join by studying fashion design, marketing, or merchandising. There are 12 fashion schools in Washington, including four that offer graduate-level programs. The average cost of tuition is $9,972, although tuition can be as inexpensive as $2,829 at Spokane Falls Community College.
Seattle Pacific University may have one of the best scholarship programs in Washington. The average scholarship award at this school is $13,999. The school maintains a list of fashion scholarships, including the Dorothy Kennedy Scholarship, Lois C. Caldwell FCS Scholarship, and Dorothy Kreider Memorial Scholarship.
As you begin your fashion career, get ready for an exciting job search. You can be employed in many different settings, including retail stores, marketing firms, and fashion design companies. Some of the largest fashion employers in Washington include Destination XL Group, DSW Shoes, and Macy’s. The job outlook in Washington is solid; the state only has an unemployment rate of 6.6% (BLS, 2013).
When you start out as a new fashion professional, your salary may be lower than average; this is because the fashion industry really values experience. Fashion designers earn an average salary of $62,020 per year, while merchandise displayers earn an average salary of $31,310 (BLS, 2012). The average marketing specialist’s salary is $78,730 per year (BLS, 2012).