The Top 10 US Schools for Fashion Journalism, PR, Marketing and More
Fashionista made a personal top of 10 best schools in fashion journalism, public relations, advertising etc. Going to these schools won’t guarantee your dream job in fashion. But a degree from these schools is certainly going to put any student at an advantage. The schools are listed in no particular order:
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
Companies That Have Hired Grads: Condé Nast (4% of employees); Saks (4% of 4,000 employees); Bergdorf Goodman (11% of 300 employees); Barneys (7% of 700 employees); Macy’s (2% of 21,000); Vogue (4% of 450 employees); BPCM PR (4% of 60 employees); Plus: Bloomingdales, Hearst, MTV, L’Oreal, Tiffany & Co., The Jones Group, Polo Ralph Lauren, Nike, and VF Corporation.
Notable Alum/Former Students: Many designers, from Michael Kors to Calvin Klein. Nina Garcia, Candy Pratts Price, Robert Verdi, Joe Zee, Ken Downing, and Fashionista’s very own Dhani Mau.
New York University (NYU)
Companies That Have Hired Grads: Condé Nast (4% of 3,500 employees); Hearst (4% of 1,200); Vogue (6% of 450); Starworks (PR)(10% of 90 employees); Saks (1% of 3,900); Bergdorf Goodman (3% of 300 employees); Barneys (3% of 700 employees); Ford Models (2% of 600 employees); Plus: Macy’s,Bloomingdale’s, Urban Outfitters,TJX Companies,Ralph Lauren, Lord & Taylor, JCrew,
Saks, Abercrombie, Victoria’s Secret.
Parsons The New School for Design
Companies That Have Hired Grads: Vogue (3% of 450); Elle (3% of 270); Bergdorf Goodman (4% of 300); Barneys (2% of 700); Saks Fifth Avenue (1% of 4000); Plus: Christian Louboutin, Eileen Fisher, Ralph Lauren, Marchesa, Elle, Tom Ford, Donna Karan, Forever 21, Alice and Olivia, J Crew, Luxottica, Versace, Estee Lauder, Lord & Taylor, Henri Bendel, Lane Crawford
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (Los Angeles, CA (campuses in Irvine, San Diego,
and San Francisco)
Companies That Have Hired Grads: Saks Fifth Avenue (1% of ~4,000 employees); Barneys {2% of ~700 employees: Nordstrom (2% of 10,000+ employees); Nordstrom Product Group (5% of 724); PR companies; Many grads start their own companies (stylists, etc).
Syracuse University (New York)
Companies That Have Hired Grads: Condé Nast (1% of 3,500 employees); Plus: Cartier, Avon, Harods, Elizabeth Arden, Macy’s, Target, Tory Burch, Factory PR
Notable Alum/Former Students: Betsey Johnson; Many journalists, broadcasters, people in entertainment.
Penn State (University Park, PA)
Companies That Have Hired Grads: Elle (2% of 275 employees); BPCM Public Relations (6% of 60 employees); Macy’s (1% of 21,300 employees); Plus jobs/internships at: Glamour, Hearst, Armani Exchange, boutique PR firms; Fordham University (New York City). Companies That Have Hired Grads: Elle (2% of 275); PR Consulting (5% of 60 employees); Plus:Kenneth Cole, Ann Taylor; Notable Alum/Former Students: A former Burberry CEO; Lana Del Rey.
University of Michigan
Companies That Have Hired Grads: Saks, Hearst, various PR companies, Target, Ann Taylor; Students last summer did internships at Gucci, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Hearst, Conde Nast;
Notable Alum/Former Students: Jessica Kleiman, VP of Public Relations for Hearst Magazines; All industries are well-represented (including a lot of astronauts)
Rutgers New Jersey
Companies That Have Hired Grads: Conde Nast (1% of 3,500 employees); Hearst (2% of 1,200 employees); Starworks (PR) (3% of 90 employees); Barneys (2% of 730 employees); Notable Alum/Former Students: Mark Ecko; Many CEOs and award-winning journalists; Michele Promaulayko, EIC of Women’s Health (formerly at Cosmopolitan); Boston University; Notable Alum/Former Students: Lots and lots of Pulitzer prize winners; Mickey Drexler; Executives at Benetton and other apparel companies: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Read a detailed chart of every fashion school here
