The Colorado State University Department of Design and Merchandising’s undergraduate programs are considered among the top 5 percent nationally, according to the latest rankings by Fashion-Schools.org and Interior-Design-Colleges.com.

In addition to gaining the top ranking for the Southwest region and the state of Colorado, national rankings for 2015 include Merchandising as fifth among the top 50 fashion merchandising schools and colleges in the U.S., Apparel Design as 14th among the top 50 fashion design schools and colleges in the U.S., and Interior Design as 16th among 365 interior design programs across the U.S.

“Faculty and students are delighted their programs are recognized among the best in the country for design and merchandising,” said Nancy Miller, head of the Department of Design and Merchandising. “CSU has a long history of excellence in design and merchandising, with many of our graduates positioned globally in interior design, apparel design and product development, sourcing, merchandising, management and marketing.”

“I am proud of our Department of Design and Merchandising and the recent rankings,” said College of Health and Human Sciences Dean Jeff McCubbin. “We have new and exciting initiatives, including new concentrations and interdisciplinary programs that will continue to expand student and faculty opportunities. We are proud of our past and excited by the future in Design and Merchandising.”

Methodology

According to Fashion-Schools.org, the 2015 rankings were based on academic reputation; admission selectivity; geographic location; depth and breadth of the program and faculty; and value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness. Interior- Design-Colleges.com employs a standardized system of measurement based on multiple factors, using the U.S. Department of Education as the data source.

Students have the opportunity to work with more than 20,000 artifacts and view collections at the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising. Special collections include designer garments from Calvin Klein, James Galanos, Carolina Herrera, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, and Versace, as well as ethnographic holdings representing the culture and dress of many countries.

In addition to access to the Avenir Museum, students have the opportunity to participate in the internship program and study abroad opportunities. Past students have studied in Italy, France, Peru, England, Denmark, and Australia. Students have completed internships with major companies and brands such as Marchesa, Vera Wang, Jonathan Simkhai, Marie Claire, Rag and Bone, RVCA, Nordstrom, Ralph Lauren, Spyder, Sierra Designs, Pearl Izumi, and many others. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the annual CSU Fashion Show, Interior Design Industry Connections, and domestic and international study tours of New York, Hong Kong, Thailand, India and England.

The Department of Design and Merchandising is in the College of Health and Human Sciences at CSU.