Can’t decide between a career in fashion or a career in journalism? Consider putting the two together and embark on the journey of becoming a fashion journalist! A career in fashion journalism is not only an exciting profession that combines a passion for journalism and love of fashion but it also incorporates photography, creative skills and a little bit of art. With so many schools to look at and research, choosing a college to reveal the path to the start of your passion for fashion journalism may not be easy. What colleges have useful classes or great fashion magazines? What colleges offer the best internships? Or lead you on the path to possibly becoming the next Carrie Bradshaw, Betty Suarez or Jenna Rink? We narrowed down a list of the top colleges to make your fashion journalism career path a little clearer.
Here are the top 10 best colleges for fashion journalism
10. Lasell University
Lasell University, located in Newton, Massachusetts is home to the POLISHED fashion magazine run by students for students. It highlights the diverse fashion in Boston and surrounding Massachusetts cities. The magazine won numerous awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Lasell University also originated the student-run business Studio1851, started by the fashion students at Lasell. To become a fashion journalist, you don’t exactly need a Fashion Journalism degree. A degree in Fashion Media or Communications would work just as well. Lasell offers a BA in Fashion Media and Marketing, where students can learn all the aspects of fashion storytelling. They will learn the behind-the-scenes of fashion marketing. Becoming a fashion journalist means you also need to take part in and report on fashion-related events such as Fashion Week. Lasell offers its undergraduate BA in Fashion Media and Marketing students an opportunity to go to Boston Fashion Week as well as numerous other fashion events.
Lasell gives students great opportunities to be active and gain experience. Students can also take classes such as “Editorial Fashion Production,” “Understanding Mass Media,” “Journalism” and “The Business of Fashion.” Not only will these courses prepare students for fashion journalism, but they will also prepare students with the necessary fashion business, journalism and marketing skills in order to become successful in the next chapter of their careers. Students at Lasell University also will often end up going into internships with companies such as Marc Jacobs, Wayfair and New Balance. Alumni also end up going into jobs with brands like Puma, Converse and Marc Jacobs.
Lasell University offers some great extracurricular opportunities to those interested in wanting to experience fashion journalism, as well as classes for a background in fashion and journalism. Students can get involved in publications to build experience and get involved in skill-making. Joining any college’s fashion magazine is a good idea, and every fashion journalism student should take advantage of it.
9. New York University
Who doesn’t want to go to a college located in the Big Apple? NYU students who major in Magazine Journalism possess the opportunity to learn about magazine publication, which is usually the form of media fashion journalists end up writing for. Taking fashion-related classes and getting involved in extracurriculars gives students a fashion background and experience. Students can also take classes such as “Intro to Fashion Design,” “Copyediting for Digital and Print Media,” “The Art and Business of Fashion” and “Fashion Styling.”
NYU Magazine Journalism students also have the chance to write for NYU’s magazine, EMBODIED, a magazine showcasing style and art. Students also have the opportunity to join “the Future Fashion Group”. This fashion group raises awareness on the environmental consequences of textile manufacturing and promotes sustainable fashion. As fashion journalists, it is important to learn about the background of fashion, and social issues related. NYU offers great internship and job opportunities for Magazine Journalism students, especially in the NYC area. Students at this school often end up getting jobs in companies such as Women’s Wear Daily, Vanity Fair, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Fashionista and more. Internships for NYU Magazine Journalism students have published stories in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone and more. NYU’s fashion magazine has also been featured in Teen Vogue, Fashionista and Business of Fashion Magazine.
8. Fullerton Community College
Fullerton College is a two-year community college located in Fullerton, California. It is the oldest community college in California, administering over 16,000 students. On the cheaper side, Fullerton ranges approximately $1,000 and some change for in-state tuition and $7,000 and some change for out-of-state tuition. Some students are even eligible to get the first two years of their education for free.
Fullerton College is one of the colleges that gives students an opportunity to fully major in fashion-focused journalism with an opportunity for an associate’s degree in Fashion Journalism (two-year degree). This degree is perfect for students who want to focus completely on fashion journalism instead of focusing on another broader degree like journalism or communications. Alumni from Fullerton end up working at fashion magazines, advertising and trade magazines or even going down the public relations path. Students can also take part in writing for Fullerton’s newspaper, The Hornet and joining their Fashion Club.
7. The New School (Parsons)
The New School’s Parsons School of Design offers numerous creative majors for their creative students. Located in Manhattan, New York City, the Parsons re:D publication is the school’s magazine that has everything to do with design. From fashion to the arts, students are given the opportunity to write what interests them. Ever heard of the famous Marc Jacobs and fashion designer Anna Sui? They are Parson’s famous fashion alumni. Alumni possess great opportunities after college and even get to work at big-name brand fashion companies and write for magazines such as V Magazine and Rouge Fashion.
With a mixed major in Journalism and Design, students can learn the fundamentals and necessary skills of journalism and choose their own design pathway by having the flexibility to choose their focus on their own interests, including fashion. Such classes can include “Fundamentals of Fashion Journalism,” “News, Narrative, and Design,” “Data Storytelling” and “Fashion Journalism.” For those who want to move on to graduate school and obtain a masters degree in this field, students can take a one to two year master’s program (MA) in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism. 30 credits and a 3.0 GPA are needed to complete the program. Additionally, students can also choose to pursue a Bachelors-Masters program (BA/MA) where they can complete two degrees in 5 years. The Journalism and Design Program is applicable for this degree.
6. Arizona State University
Arizona State University’s (ASU) Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts allow students who have a passion for fashion journalism to explore different types of classes and gain tons of useful experience and skills to move on to the next chapter of their dream fashion journalism career. Students get to create their own path and choose what they want to do with their degree. Students can choose to major in journalism, taking classes like “Introduction to Editing” and “News Reporting and Writing.” ASU offers a minor in fashion, allowing journalism majors to have a focus in fashion. The fashion minor requires 19 credit hours.
“The journalism school is the best option for fashion journalism students who are seeking proper writing technique that is needed in any kind of journalism including fashion. Some classes that are helpful for fashion journalism students include ‘Introduction to Editing’ and ‘Mass Communication Law,” Vice President of ASU’s The Chic Daily fashion publication Camryn McLen said. “The Chic Daily is a great opportunity for fashion journalism students as well… For one, the journalism school doesn’t actually have any specific fashion or entertainment track for students to go down. That’s where The Chic Daily comes in. The Chic Daily is a space for those journalism students who want to go into a fashion journalism or even public relations for fashion career. It gives students the experience and practice they need before going into the fashion journalism industry. The Chic Daily gets invited to fashion shows and high-profile events that our members are able to cover or write about.”
ASU’s The Chic Daily is a digital and print fashion publication run by members of the fashion journalism club. It features and reports the latest styles, trends and beauty. The Chic Daily is a great opportunity for journalism students to gain experience writing for fashion. Adding on, ASU also has The Style Line Magazine run by the ASU fashion program. It serves as a creative outlet for students who are looking to go into fashion or fashion journalism. ASU’s fashion students were also featured in The LA Times and Fashion United. Even though ASU doesn’t have a specific fashion journalism track, the school still offers numerous opportunities for aspiring fashion journalists between the overlapping departments through campus organizations and publications like The Fashion Journalism Club, The Chic Daily and The Style Line Magazine for career prep.
5. Savannah College of Art and Design
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is not just for those art majors but also gives great opportunities for those interested in fashion journalism to get involved. Located in Savannah, Georgia, with other campuses in Atlanta and Lacoste, France. Students are able to show off their creativity with whatever major they choose. Students at SCAD can opt to take a BFA major in writing, which allows students to take classes such as “Writing for Emerging Media,” “Writing for Arts and Entertainment,” “Digital Communication” and “Professional Freelance Writing.” Students in this major take numerous types of writing classes, which vary from writing fiction to nonfiction, communication and journalism and even some creative art classes. SCAD also offers a minor in Fashion Journalism which is a total of 25 hours needed. Students are able to take classes such as “Writing About Fashion,” “History of Fashion” and “Convergent Journalism.” Having a major in Writing and a minor in Fashion Journalism allows students to stay on the fashion track in their college experience.
SCAD’s fashion students have been featured in magazines such as Vogue, Fashionista and Savannah Magazine. Alumni are offered numerous fashion-related positions and end up working at big-name companies such as Elle, Marc Jacobs, Louie Vuitton, and Teen Vogue. The opportunities don’t end here because SCAD students are able to write for SCAD’s online fashion publication, The Manor. It showcases the diversity and talent of SCAD’s creative students. Alongside The Manor, SCAD students also run SCAD Scan, the school’s magazine, which features everything from creative writing to student life. The appreciation of fashion at SCAD is also shown through the school’s fashion museum, located within the SCAD Atlanta campus at 1600 Peachtree St. NW. It is a creative resource for students to showcase their creativity and be an inspiration to others. If you not only love fashion or journalism but love the beauty of art and the visual arts, SCAD is the perfect school for you.
4. South Methodist University
South Methodist University (SMU) is a hidden underrated gem located in Dallas, Texas. SMU’s BA in Fashion Media program prepares its students with the experience and everything they need to know about life in the fashion communications industry, whether you want to be a fashion journalist, write for a magazine, do fashion-related photography, or take on the world of fashion public relations. The program teaches students fashion writing and reporting using photography, videography, social media and other contemporary forms of media. Students also get an opportunity to learn about real-life experiences with fashion and have the flexibility of choosing electives that most interest them. Students get to gain experience writing for SMU’s fashion magazine, SMU Look and The Daily Campus Newspaper. SMU students also can get internships in the Dallas area.
3. Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri, is home to the Stephens College Stars. It is one of the oldest private women’s colleges in the country. It is a small college with an enrollment of around 400 undergraduates. Located in the Midwest, the school is also within walking distance to the city life of Columbia, Missouri. Stephens offers students a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fashion Communications. The communications aspect is broad, where students get to learn about the different forms of media and media-related jobs such as journalism, public relations and marketing. The fashion aspect allows students to learn everything about fashion, from its history to its construction. Stephens was ranked the 6th “Best Fashion School in the World” in 2019 by The Business of Fashion, London, and the 14th “Best Fashion School in the World” in 2023 by CEOWORLD Magazine. This degree prepares students not only to be future journalists but rather for all the different aspects of fashion communications.
Being one of the top fashion schools, it gives students an opportunity to take advantage of the school’s fashion program and still learn about the communications industry, which also includes journalism. Students are also able to write for the Stephens Life Magazine, which also allows students to prepare for the real publishing world by taking on positions such as creative director, graphic designer, art director, photographer, etc. The magazine also allows members to sell ad space and pitch article ideas. This is what normally occurs in a real fashion magazine. This gives student staff the perfect opportunity to taste what it would be like working in a fashion magazine and gives them great opportunities to start launching their dream career. The magazine has won numerous awards from The College Media Association Pinnacle Awards and The Associated Collegiate Press. Additionally, students can join the fashion club which administers fashion shows every semester. Stephens gives fashion journalism students a perfect opportunity to experience the real-world fashion publishing industry and learn about everything the industry offers and what path they may take.
2. Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), also located in the Big Apple, makes the top second for this ranking. FIT is the top NYC school of fashion. What better way to gain knowledge of fashion when surrounded by it? Starting off, FIT has numerous fashion-related publications and clubs students can join to showcase their creative skills. Firstly, FIT’s Blush magazine is the school’s first student run fashion publication. It provides students with the latest in beauty, fashion, trends, and lifestyle. Alongside the magazine, the school features W27 Newspaper, a student-run newspaper by students involved in all aspects of production, serving the voice of the student body. The FIT Zine club is a club all about making and creating your own magazines. It is the perfect opportunity for aspiring fashion journalists to get creative and be part of something that can also help build their fashion journalism resume. Additionally, the FIT newsroom is a media publication that broadcasts all FIT’s current news. Students should take advantage of these creative opportunities to get involved, which will also allow them to build their portfolio.
FIT offers an Advertising and Marketing Communications BS program, allowing students to develop skills in communications, write news releases, ads and newspaper and magazine articles. They acquire the necessary skills to make it in the communications industry. Students can take classes such as, “Introduction to Journalism,” “Mass Communications,” “Magazine Journalism” and “Feature Journalism”. Being a communications major at FIT means having fashion all around you, which is the perfect opportunity for journalism students to gain insight and skills in fashion journalism.
1. Academy of Art University
Ultimately, The Academy of Art University (ART U), located in sunny San Francisco, California, is a great opportunity for students interested in fashion journalism to get involved. Through the school’s online and print fashion media publication, 180 Magazine. “Both onsite and online students are given the opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world context, publish their work, and build their portfolios while working closely with the industry they are preparing to enter.” The magazine strives for collaboration and inclusivity between current students and fashion alumni. Additionally, ART U fashion students have been featured in magazines and publications such as Vogue, Runway 360, Entertainment Tonight and The LA Times. ART U graduates have gotten jobs after college in positions like fashion editors, executive editors and fashion journalists.
ART U offers a Fashion Journalism Masters degree. Additionally, they also offer a Associates Degree in Fashion Journalism. The Masters degree not only goes into depth on the basics of fashion journalism, but also offers students with a broad education on New Media Journalism, especially in our generation where new media has become predominate. The program is extremy diverse. Offering students classes such as “Fundamentals of Fashion Journalism,” “Magazine Publishing,” “Fashion Research and Reporting,” “Fashion, Arts and Influence,” and “Mobile and Social Media Journalism.” Similarly, their Associates degree, goes into depth on the fundamentals of social media and fashion business, both crucial walking into the field of fashion journalism. Whether you want to specifically take a major in Fashion Journalism or opt for a broader degree in Communications, ART U offers numerous experiences, pathways and knowledge for their students that will set them up for life after college.
