Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles

Welcome to FIDM. Welcome to your future. You have unique aspirations for your life and FIDM offers the educational pathways and guidance to discover the successful future you envision.

We’re a one-of-a-kind college of the applied arts, where your creative talent, academic engagement, and determination are fostered by a dedicated faculty and staff. You’ll also be energized by fellow students from diverse backgrounds, across the country and around the globe, with creative objectives and ideas like yours.

Career guidance, student activities that encourage community-minded projects, exposure to industry experts, and cultural experiences are all part of the stimulating campus life.

Each of our four campuses is strategically located for optimal visual stimulation and immersion in California’s vibrant entertainment, fashion, and action sports industries with plentiful business hubs.

We invite you to take a bold step, walk through our doors and join our learning community. You’ll uncover not just the profession that you imagine, but the knowledge to take you there.

In 1969, we were urban pioneers starting a one-of-a-kind college with two Downtown L.A. classrooms. We’ve grown to become four campuses with a student body of 4,200 and nearly 70,000 graduates worldwide. Our driving force has been to stay focused on our goal: to create an educational environment that fuses student desires with career realities. We’re always thinking about how we can adapt and expand to meet the challenges ahead.

We offer accredited Master’s, Bachelor’s and Associate Degree programs in design and creative business. Our students collaborate on special Industry Partner Projects with brands like Nike, Murad, Athleta, Signal Snowboards, Lacoste, GUESS, and TOMS. Part-time work and internships with companies like J Brand Jeans, Stila, Topshop, Forever 21, Victoria’s Secret, and Adidas are an integral part of the curriculum. Our faculty are talented industry professionals who bring their experience and connections into the classroom, creating a dynamic, career-focused learning environment.

FIDM's engaging learning environment and rigorous programs of study develop graduates who become leaders in the industries of global design and business. Under the guidance of faculty who are industry professionals, students learn to strategically integrate design thinking with technology, producing work that is grounded in critical and creative thought. Graduates embrace cultural diversity and ethical choice while advancing the well-being of their communities.

FIDM offers several different types of financial assistance. You may apply for federal and state grants and loans, merit-based tuition scholarships, work-study programs, and browse our Career Center listings for part-time employment.

FIDM is also military friendly school and accepts most VA (Veterans Affairs) education benefits for veterans, spouses, and dependents. Enrolled students may also apply for a Work-Study program. Aid received from this program consists of wages paid for work. Earnings are not applied to the student's account at FIDM. Students interested in participating in this program must contact FIDM's Student Advisement Office.

The mission of the International Student Office is to enrich international students’ experience by providing counseling, information, and support services and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations.

FIDM has 4,200 students, which includes 650 international students from 65 countries. Each campus has a staff member dedicated to assisting our International Students with their visa needs, and we offer numerous support services including orientation, student activity meetings, and cultural exchange events. FIDM wants to make your transition to living in California as easy as possible and is here for you every step of the way.

From the first day of class, students begin to integrate into a network that includes industry-leading faculty and 70,000 influential alumni. Work experience goes hand-in-hand with the curriculum as students are encouraged to intern and work in the industry in order to grow their network and gain real-world experience.

International partnerships create the opportunity for student mobility between our partner institutions. Students mutually benefit from the learning and experiences of students from across the world, preparing our students for their chosen global industries.

Study Tours give students an opportunity to engage with companies and brands while getting a closer look at the industries they are planning to enter. Experts guide all the tours, and many include a networking element.

Students meet the people behind LA’s thriving denim industry, the entrepreneurs who are making over the beauty industry, and the artisans spinning magic in the legendary couture houses of Paris, among others. The choice to study in California is a great one. The campuses are located in major metropolitan areas and the large and culturally diverse populations inspire creativity and learning.

More than 40 percent of our student body is from out of state or out of the country, so students network and collaborate with peers from all over the world, creating an energy like no other. United by their passion, ambition, and drive, students share a common goal—to be the best at what they love to do.

Students have the unique opportunity to participate in Study Tours to places including Paris, Rome, Milan, Florence, New York, and Asia. There are also many options when it comes to joining student organizations, which bring together those with common interests and career goals.