Top Costume Design Schools 2025

Located just north of Los Angeles, the school offers costume design students the best of both worlds: access to the industry and the space to develop their own voice. CalArts’costume legacy runs deep. Long ago, it was the Chouinard Art Institute — the early training ground for icons Edith Head and Bob Mackie. During the ’60s, Chouinard merged with the L.A. Conservatory of Music to form CalArts, part of Walt and Roy Disney’s vision for a school where artists of all disciplines could learn under one roof. That spirit still holds.  

Tuition BFA and MFA grad $60,650

Alumni Ariel Boroff (Mank, Violent Night)

Carnegie Mellon’s esteemed costume design program combines conservatory training with opportunities in theater, dance, opera, film, television, video gaming and themed entertainment. Students are exposed to a broad mix of techniques — from classical illustration and draping to digital concept art and collaborative character development — often through cross-listed courses in CMU’s School of Art, School of Design and the Entertainment Technology Center.

Tuition BFA $67,020; MFA $37,740

Alumni Ann Roth (Barbie), Daniel Orlandi (Borderlands), Terry Ann Gordon (president of the Costume Designer’s Guild 892), Jake Poser (Law & Order)

Based in New Haven, Yale’s costume program offers a rare combination: proximity to Broadway and the creative intensity of a conservatory. A non-negligible perk: David Geffen’s $150 million donation in 2021 eliminated tuition for all degree-seeking students and funded a new home for the school and its partner, Yale Repertory Theatre. The three-year MFA blends artistic depth with real-world prep. Students spend time in the classroom and on productions, working closely with peers in directing, acting and playwriting.

Tuition MFA tuition-free upon acceptance

Alumni Donna Zakowska (Gringo),Tom Broecker (Saturday Night Live), Jenn Rogien (Russian Doll)

NIDA has carved out a distinctive place among the world’s leading design schools. Unlike many programs that focus strictly on costume design, NIDA emphasizes training students as costume makers and supervisors — while still grounding them in core disciplines such as sewing, patternmaking and rendering. Small class sizes (typically six students a year) mean highly personalized instruction in hands-on specialties such as corsetry, tailoring, millinery, leatherwork, dyeing and costume cutting. Students gain practical experience by collaborating on fully realized theater and screen productions.

Tuition Bachelor of Design or Bachelor of Costume $16,560 per year for three-year, full-time program

Alumni Catherine Martin (Moulin Rouge!), Edie Kurzer (Picnic at Hanging Rock) 

Located in the heart of New York’s creative mecca, Tisch’s Department of Design for Stage and Film offers students the kind of access, training and professional community that few programs can match. Now, under the leadership of Justin Townsend, chair and Tony-nominated lighting designer, the department is expanding its scope. “We’re exploring ways to give our students the experience of designing for film in addition to theater and dance while they’re still in school,” says Townsend.

Tuition MFA $76,646

Alumni Paul Tazewell (Wicked), Brenda Abbandandolo Corea (Good Night, and Good Luck), Clint Ramos (Maybe Happy Ending)

At SCAD, costume design is offered as a minor concentration through the School of Film and Acting and is open to both BFA and MFA students. This setup offers a solid base in design while keeping the focus on storytelling, character psychology and working across disciplines. One major draw? The school’s massive production facilities, a magnet for both students and working professionals. SCAD also boasts an impressive masterclass program that brings some of Hollywood’s best-known costume designers to campus.

Tuition BFA $42,165; MFA $43,155

Alumni Anna Tringali (Hustlers), Lauren Driskell (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a costume design program with more industry access. With innovative classes, deep ties to Hollywood and regular visits from top working designers, the School of Theater, Film, and TV gives students a real-world head start. The Westwood campus — a few minutes from studios and production houses — offers opportunities you won’t find in most college towns. Led by Deborah Nadoolman Landis, the program balances technical discipline with creative risk.

Tuition BFA in-state $19,473, out-of-state $53,673; MFA in-state $39,072, out-of-state $50,057

Alumni Allison Agler (Monsters), Maddison Carroll (Agatha All Along), Lauren Cucarola(The Pitt)

The costume program is one of several concentrations within the School of Design & Production at UNCSA, one of five conservatories on one campus. Productions pull all of them together. One week you’re fitting a dancer, the next you’re sourcing vintage pieces for a student film. There’s no waiting around — it’s hands-on from the start, and you learn by doing. Plus, Winston-Salem has an active arts community and an easgoing vibe that gives students space to focus. The lower cost of living helps as well. And with Atlanta and New York nearby, students stay connected to the industry without the chaos of a living in a big city.

Tuition BFA$6,497 in-state, $24,231 out-of-state; MFA $9,696 in-state, $24,300 out-of-state

Alumni Paul Tazewell (Wicked), Tricia Barsamian (Sirens), Kristen Mendez (The Gilded Age), Andja Budincich (You)

Location, location, location. Los Angeles — and the entertainment industry — are an extension of the classroom at USC’s Costume Design program, with the Fashion District nearby and major studios just a short drive away. The program recently added a hands-on course in costume crafts, diving into specialty skills like millinery, jewelry making and thermoplastics, while continuing its strong foundation in tailoring, draping and construction. USC also is one of the few programs integrating artificial intelligence into its creative process. Students are encouraged to experiment with the medium for concept development and early stage research while still honing traditional skills. 

Tuition BFA $73,60

Alumni Megan Guthrie-Wedemeyer (1923)

The school’s ties to the British film and TV industry run deep. Renowned for its rigorous focus on historical costume (though it also excels at contemporary), Wimbledon offers two specialist pathways: Costume Design and Costume Interpretation. Undergraduates study for three years, while MA students complete an intensive one-year program. The curriculum integrates classical construction techniques with imaginative storytelling and features courses in corsetry, prop making, puppetry, prosthetics and even animatronics. A campus-wide renovation recently added new performance spaces, design studios and digital labs. The updates aim to keep pace with how the industry is shifting — and give students the tools to meet it head-on. 

Tuition $11,650 for U.K. students; $32,700 for international students

Alumni Caroline McCall (House of the Dragon and Downton Abbey), Trisha Biggar (Outlander), Phoebe De Gaye (Belgravia: The Next Chapter) 

This story appeared in the Sep. 3 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.