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SNHU Fashion student studying with text Meghan Lajoie James '21

Fashion Merchandising Degree Online Bachelor's (BS) Program

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Register By: June 24 Classes Start: June 26

Earn a Fashion Merchandising Degree

  • $320/credit (120 total credits)
  • Transfer up to 90 credits
  • Gain in-demand business and merchandising skills
  • Courses taught by industry experts
  • 24/7 online access to the classroom
  • Required internship for real-world experience

Fashion Merchandising Degree Online Program Overview

Develop a timeless sense of style and gain a firm grasp of business strategy with the online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Fashion Merchandising Management degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

The fashion world is dynamic – evolving as seasons, culture, materials and consumer behavior influence new trends. You’ll learn how to identify what styles will sell and how to sell them well.

The fashion merchandising degree online courses are taught by industry experts working in the field. Class sizes are small, so you’ll have the opportunity to interact with instructors who understand how style, business and technology intersect. You’ll also gain valuable real-world experience by completing a required fashion merchandising internship.

Not ready to commit to a bachelor's program? Earn your online fashion merchandising associate degree in two years or less.

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What You'll Learn

  • Fashion marketing
  • Color and textile theory
  • Consumer behavior and retail operations
  • Planning and management
  • Product life cycle merchandising
  • How to achieve retail objectives

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How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom, and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

Earn A Fashion Business Degree Online at SNHU

Combining fashion principles with a strong business core, Southern New Hampshire University’s online BS in Fashion Merchandising Management offers a perfect pathway to a career in the fashion business.

Career Outlook

Earning a fashion merchandising degree online can position you for an exciting career that puts you – and fashion – in the public eye. The types of jobs available continue to shift, as more fashion and retail businesses moved online in the wake of COVID-19. As the industry evolves, fashion companies and retailers are working to adjust. More than ever, fashion retailers need business-minded leaders with an eye for style and the bottom line.

Job options for online fashion merchandising degree holders include:

Merchandising Manager

Oversee retail functions for clothing or shoe departments within a store. Create merchandising displays, coordinate workflow and ensure an attractive store appearance.

Assistant Retail Fashion Buyer

Assist with product selection and vendor negotiation. Understand trends in the fashion industry and identify products to drive sales and increase a company's competitive edge.

Corporate Retail Merchandiser

Ensure goods are available in stores and enhance profits through pricing and promotional strategies. Work with buyers and merchandisers, and coordinate with suppliers and distributors.

Retail Planner

Help a retail company create sales and inventory plans to meet financial targets. Analyze inventory and sales data and bring in new products based on trends and consumer needs.

Fashion Marketing Manager

Promote a fashion company's products to the target market. Conduct market research and coordinate campaigns to market a brand or product to potential customers.

Retail Store Manager

Oversee the daily operations of a retail store. Motivate sales teams, create business and marketing strategies, develop promotional materials and train new staff.

District Manager

Lead a group of retail stores within a region. Work with company leadership and individual stores to recruit and train managers, set  goals and ensure compliance.

Boutique Manager

Manage the daily operations of a small retail store focusing on a niche market. Recruit and train staff, work with vendors, order supplies, and handle customer issues and marketing.

With so many diverse opportunities available for online fashion degree holders, salary and job growth potential will vary. No matter what your specific area of interest, earning a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising can boost your long term earning and career potential.

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Job Growth

Jobs for marketing managers, for example, are projected to grow 10% through 2031.2 Jobs in the sales management field are projected to grow 5% through 2031.2

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Salary

Marketing managers earned a median salary of $135,030 in 2021.2 Sales managers with a bachelor's degree earned a median salary of $127,480 in 2021.2

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Fashion Merchandising Degree

Fashion is a Big Business

Meleena EatonMeleena Eaton, associate dean

"SNHU’s degree in fashion merchandising prepares our students for the business side of fashion through the combination of discipline-specific courses and foundational business courses in accounting, marketing and HR."

Courses & Curriculum

Degree Courses

Merchandising and management courses can help you understand how merchandise planning and purchasing impact retail profit. You can apply your learning to analyze profit and loss statements. You’ll also explore the relationship between manufacturers and retailers and learn how ordering and managing the right merchandise are key to a retailer’s success.

Elective courses in consumer behavior and retail sales promotion can help you prepare for fashion marketing roles. You can explore the way that consumers make buying decisions, and discover how store layout and design, merchandising, pricing and other factors influence retail fashion sales.

Your degree also includes 18 free elective credits so you can supplement your fashion merchandising online courses with courses in marketing, information technology, graphic design or another area of interest.

You'll also build a strong foundation of valuable career skills with general education courses focused on writing, quantitative reasoning, humanities, social sciences and more.

Throughout your coursework, you’ll learn from expert faculty with years of experience working in the fashion and retail industries. They’ll use their professional experience to help you apply your learning to real-world situations.

Internships

You’ll also get to apply your learning to a required fashion internship. The internship must be U.S.-based and include a minimum of 150 hours on the job. Your academic advisor can assist you with any questions you may have about finding an internship.

"The internship course that is offered at SNHU has given students the chance to work with some of the best retailers in the country in some of the most amazing fashion experiences," said Dr. Jessica Rogers, senior associate dean of business programs at SNHU. "Students have worked with the development of wholesale sales in corporate offices, shadowed department store management, used digital technology to help promote sales for social media, and worked in the corporate office merchandising a line of apparel. Internships enhance the skill set of the student’s intent in the field."

With a fashion marketing degree internship, you can build valuable career skills that are in high demand across many industries. These career skills include:

  • Communication: Share ideas within an organization, department or leadership team and target your message to a variety of business and consumer audiences.
  • Analysis: Gather and review consumer behavior and retail data to set strategic goals and monitor an initiative’s progress.
  • Problem-solving: Connect classroom learning and practical experience to solve real-world retail problems and discover new opportunities.
  • Critical thinking: Evaluate problems objectively and apply ethical, legal and socially responsible practices to make strategic decisions.

Student Services

As an online student, you’ll also benefit from the full range of SNHU student services. These services include writing help, tutoring and even online student clubs and professional organizations.

Our career advising team can help you get ready for a job search by reviewing your resume and cover letter helping you prepare for interviews. These services are available even after you graduate.

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

Business Core

Business programs require learners to complete the Business core program, which includes a variety of business-specific courses. This program focuses on 10 core competencies to prepare you for success wherever you go.

General Education

All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through these foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

Technology Resources

We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.

Earn Math Credits

Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment. For additional information, or to register for a Pathways to Math Success assessment, contact your admission counselor or academic advisor today.

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

This program and its concentrations are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on College Navigator.

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Tuition & Fees

As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

We also offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs Per Course Per Credit Hour Annual Cost for 30 credits 
Degree/Certificates $960 $320 $9,600
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* $675 $225 $6,750

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

Frequently Asked Questions

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