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Affordable Fashion Design and Merchandising Degrees & Schools Online

If you want some glamor, creativity, style and fun, fashion design and merchandising degrees can give you just what you are looking for. These careers are more than just designing clothes and handbags. You can be a buyer, sales consultant, stylist, runway coordinator or any of several different choices in this creative field.

Degrees in Fashion Design and Merchandising

AA in Fashion Merchandising
Associate of Applied Science in Fashion Marketing
BA in Retail Management
BA in Fashion Merchandising
BS in Fashion and Retail Management
MA in Fashion Merchandising
PhD in Fashion and Textiles

Career Choices in Fashion Design and Merchandising

You can easily find employment in many major cities, any geographic location, even abroad. You can also be an instructor, either online or in a traditional setting, in different parts of the world. Some prominent career choices include:

Stylist
Manager
Fashion buyer
Sales director
Sales consultant
Visual merchandiser
Retail and wholesale sales
Runway show coordinator
Manufacturer’s representative
Print and broadcast ad designer
Department manager for a retail store

Salaries for Online Fashion Design and Merchandising Degrees

Experts note that there is no difference in salary between someone earning an online degree or a traditional degree. It depends on the person and how aggressive they are regardless of where the fashion degree was earned. The following are typical average annual salaries for fashion degree holders:

Fashion buyer: entry level – $39K; 10 years – $47K
Retail store manager: entry level – $33K; 10 years – $40K
Sales director: entry level – $40K; 10 years – $73K

Pros of Online Fashion Design and Merchandising Degrees

Taking online courses is extremely convenient as there are no weather related issues for getting to class
A flexible schedule is good for those who can work alone
There are very few tests as your school work is mostly projects
You can read lectures, books and websites anywhere, anytime
You will be dealing with professionals who are already in your line of work
You can keep your current job and not have to worry about needing a job transfer
Good for parents with young children
Higher salary if you had no degree or a lower certification
You can opt to take as few or as many courses as possible since there is no financial aid given
Better jobs will be available after completing your degree without your having to go to a campus

Cons of Online Fashion Design and Merchandising Degrees

Some higher paying companies prefer a traditional education over an online education
An online graphic design education is more expensive than a traditional graphic design campus education
You lack the benefits and facilities of a traditional campus such as gyms, swimming pools, stocked library, tennis courts
Little or no guidance for financial aid or career
This style can be a great disadvantage to those who need interactive learning to better comprehend and understand class work and projects
It can be really bad for those who are not disciplined enough to arrange their schedules to fit their assignments and test into their professional and personal lives