Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County

17590 Gillette Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614

Tel: (949) 851-6200

FIDM / Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising has been educating students for careers in the fashion and entertainment industries for over 40 years. Our goal is to give students the best college education possible while preparing them to launch their career immediately. The focused curriculum, talented faculty, and a global network of industry partners like Cotton, Inc. and Disney, give students the necessary skills to work simultaneously while earning their degree. FIDM has helped launch the careers of over 40,000 graduates, including famed designers Monique Lhuillier, Kevan Hall, and Randolph Duke, just to name a few. Nine graduates have appeared as contestants on Project Runway, including FIDM Instructor Nick Verreos and Season 5 winner Leanne Marshall. Our students and graduates are doing everything from designing sets for primetime television, creating costumes for television and movies, and designing clothing for Anthropologie and GUESS, Inc., to creating visual displays for Forever 21, creating logos and marketing materials for surf and sport companies, and launching the latest beauty products. FIDM offers several degree options, including a four-year Bachelor of Science degree; 20 creative majors, and an unparalleled Career Center with a database of over 19,000 employers and growing.

School Highlights

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County serves 156 students (96% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is lower than the state community college average of 44:1.
Minority enrollment is 100% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 68%.
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County is one of 17 community colleges within Orange County, CA.
The nearest community college to Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County is Pacific College (1.5 miles away).

Top Placements

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County places among the top 20% of community colleges in California for:

The teacher population of 10 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.

	Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County	(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification	Baccalaureate / Associates Colleges	Baccalaureate / Associates Colleges
Institution Level	Less than 2 yrs	At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control	Private, for profit	Public
Total Faculty	10 staff	97 staff

The student population of Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 has decreased from 23:1 over five years.
The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County diversity score of 1.00 is more than the state average of 0.73. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.

Total Enrollment	156 students	7,516 students

Student : Teacher Ratio	16:1	44:1

# Full-Time Students	150 students	1,613 students

# Part-Time Students	6 students	5,903 students


% American Indian/Alaskan	-	-

% Asian	-	13%

% Hispanic	-	37%

% Black	-	7%

% White	-	32%

% Hawaiian	-	-

% Two or more races	-	3%

% Non Resident races	-	3%

Diversity Score	1.00	0.73

College Completion Rate	59%	29%

Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)	$41,800	$34,600

The private state tuition of $29,930 is more than the state average of $19,157. The private state tuition has grown by 14% over four years.

Private State Tuition Fees	$29,930	$19,157

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid	90%	78%

Median Debt for Graduates	$12,000	$9,500

Median Debt for Dropouts	$6,500	$5,500

Acceptance Rate	66%	96%

Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS

The nearest community college to Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County is Pacific College (1.5 miles away).

Recent Articles

January 06, 2021

Learn about mentoring programs at community colleges around the country and the benefits they offer to students.

January 06, 2021

Learn how community colleges and associate degrees can lead to high paying careers.

January 06, 2021

Learn what to expect in terms of classes and student life in your first semester of community college.

Quick Stats (2021)

Did You Know?

For California public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $1,636 per year for in-state students and $6,797 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,157 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in California is 86%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

California community colleges have a diversity score of 0.73, which is higher than the national average of 0.65. The most diverse community college in California is Coastline Community College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.