Apparel & Textiles graduates earn $57,640 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 8.3%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Materials Scientist is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Apparel & Textiles as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Family & Consumer Sciences and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Apparel & Textiles is a focused area of study within Family & Consumer Sciences. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $57,640 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 135 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 2,961 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$36,945
Median Earnings · 4yr
$57,640
Colleges Offering
135
Graduates / Year
2,961
Avg Net Price / yr
$17,894
How Much Do Apparel & Textiles Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Apparel & Textiles, a typical graduate earns $57,640, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $40,599 and $75,931, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $36,945 at one year out to $57,640 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$57,640
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$57,576
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Apparel & Textiles graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
$40,59925th pct.
$57,640Median
$75,93175th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $57,640 and an estimated $71,576 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.6 years.
Based on outcomes from 94 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 2,961 students who complete Apparel & Textiles programs each year, the majority (81%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
81%
Bachelor's81%
Associate's9%
Certificate6%
What Can You Do With an Apparel & Textiles Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Apparel & Textiles graduates show up in 6 different occupations, and Marketing Manager pays the most at $166,790/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Active LearningSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.
Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers.
Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
Complex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningScienceCritical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.
Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingTime Management
Day-to-day responsibilities
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
Reading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive Listening
Day-to-day responsibilities
Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.
Prepare reports of findings, illustrating data graphically and translating complex findings into written text.
Collect and analyze data on customer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to identify potential markets and factors affecting product demand.
Conduct research on consumer opinions and marketing strategies, collaborating with marketing professionals, statisticians, pollsters, and other professionals.
Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.
Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
Research health and safety code requirements to inform design.
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingSocial Perceptiveness
Day-to-day responsibilities
Instruct and advise individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home management activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to advance agricultural and home management activities. May develop educational outreach programs. May instruct on either agricultural issues such as agricultural processes and techniques, pest management, and food safety, or on home management issues such as budgeting, nutrition, and child development.
Advise farmers and demonstrate techniques in areas such as feeding and health maintenance of livestock, growing and harvesting practices, and financial planning.
Conduct classes or deliver lectures on subjects such as nutrition, home management, and farming techniques.
Collaborate with producers to diagnose and prevent management and production problems.
Top Colleges for Apparel & Textiles
Not sure where to study Apparel & Textiles? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Apparel & Textiles graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Family & Consumer Sciences Programs
Apparel & Textiles is not the only path through Family & Consumer Sciences: 7 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Apparel & Textiles program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Apparel & Textiles shows 4 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $57,640 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $36,945 at graduation to $57,640 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.3% over the next decade, with Materials Scientist among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 127,600 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
$57,640 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $40,599 and $75,931, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an Apparel & Textiles degree?
$36,945 in the first year out. That grows to $57,640 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an Apparel & Textiles degree?
Marketing Manager is one path, and it pays a median of $166,790 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does an Apparel & Textiles program take?
Four years of full-time study for an Apparel & Textiles bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Apparel & Textiles?
135 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is an Apparel & Textiles degree worth it?
$57,640 median earnings four years out against $17,894 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Apparel & Textiles and Family & Consumer Sciences?
Apparel & Textiles is the narrower of the two: Family & Consumer Sciences covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Apparel & Textiles-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Apparel & Textiles graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Apparel & Textiles graduates consistently look for research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Apparel & Textiles graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +3.6% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Materials Scientist is among the strongest-growth roles at +8.3%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Family & Consumer Sciences Programs
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