Fashion Institute of Technology
#1 Best Communications Colleges in New York- Graduation Rate
- 82% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $62,696 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $19,095 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 60% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 21.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Communications Colleges in New York.
Every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,595,104.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 54% more than the national college median.
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A 82% graduation rate — 43% above the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 3.65% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.4%
- Top 60%
- Patents
- 18
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 23
- Downstream influence
Why Fashion Institute of Technology Matters
Fashion Institute of Technology is a public community college in New York, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 7,637
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Communications
Why students choose Fashion Institute of Technology
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 60% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,095 a year after grants and scholarships — 11% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $62,696 ten years after enrolling — 54% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 5% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 7,600 students and a 60% acceptance rate, the Fashion Institute of Technology is ideal for those who are passionate about the creative industries. Students dive into programs like Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, and Communications, honing their skills in a vibrant, urban setting. The school's strong focus on practical applications makes it a great fit for individuals ready to thrive in fast-paced environments.
Looking at life after graduation, students here see a notable earning potential, with an average salary of about $62,700 just ten years after finishing their degree. This income reflects the strong demand for graduates in fashion, marketing, and the arts. The affordability of education here is also significant, with many students managing a net price of around $19,100 after financial aid, making it a reasonable investment for future success.
When it comes to finances, graduates carry a median debt load of $12,000, which is relatively manageable, especially given the earning potential. Students who thrive at FIT are often those who are driven, creative, and ready to immerse themselves in a collaborative learning atmosphere. With a solid graduation rate of 82%, it’s clear that many make the most of their time here, preparing them for rewarding careers in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Fashion Institute of Technology is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fashion Institute of Technology? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in New York, New York, Fashion Institute of Technology offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 82%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 60%
- Retention Rate
- 91%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,261
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.77
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 4,669
- Admitted
- 2,465
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fashion Institute of Technology? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fashion Institute of Technology is $16,874, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,095. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,117 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,294
- Out-of-State
- $16,874
- Avg Net Price
- $19,095
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 30%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,117
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,238
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,406
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,070
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Fashion Institute of Technology Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fashion Institute of Technology earn a median of $62,696, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $50,102
- 8 Years
- $58,998
- 10 Years
- $62,696
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.19x
- Earning > $25K
- 73%
Earnings Trajectory
How Fashion Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Fashion Institute of Technology Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Fashion Institute of Technology delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,095/year ($76,380 total). Graduates earn $62,696 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,671,484 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,595,104 (21.9× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 82% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $76,380
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,671,484
- Net Return
- $1,595,104
- ROI Multiple
- 21.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $19,095
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 82%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Fashion Institute of Technology Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fashion Institute of Technology is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.65%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 28.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $79,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.65%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 28.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 12.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $79,800
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Fashion Institute of Technology produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 18 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.35%
- Top 60% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 18
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 23
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $217,062
- Investment Income
- $217,117
Top Programs
The fields Fashion Institute of Technology awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Fashion Institute of Technology's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CTraining Manager$125,040 · 6% growthResilient 74
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Fashion Institute of Technology? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in New York, New York, Fashion Institute of Technology offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 60% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 82%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Fashion Institute of Technology? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Fashion Institute of Technology is $16,874, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,095. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,117 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Fashion Institute of Technology Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Fashion Institute of Technology earn a median of $62,696, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Fashion Institute of Technology Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Fashion Institute of Technology is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.65%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 28.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $79,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Fashion Institute of Technology? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Fashion Institute of Technology. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Fashion Institute of Technology.
- State University of New York at New PaltzNew Paltz, NY · Close peer70% grad $58,073 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of VermontBurlington, VT · Close peer79% grad $62,472 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- State University of New York at CortlandCortland, NY · Close peer68% grad $60,236 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsville, AL · Close peer63% grad $61,767 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN · Close peer65% grad $62,616 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Rutgers University-NewarkNewark, NJ · Close peer66% grad $74,479 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Fashion Institute of Technology? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Fashion Institute of Technology. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note