Fashion Institute of Technology

What Fashion Institute of Technology does

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is a public college within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, founded in 1944 and headquartered in New York City. The institution operates as a SUNY constituent college, with governance exercised through the SUNY Board of Trustees and a president (the seventh, Jason S. Schupbach, was appointed on January 15, 2026, succeeding Dr. Joyce F. Brown after her 27-year tenure). FIT serves undergraduate, graduate, precollege, international, and continuing-education students through a portfolio organized around four academic schools — the School of Art and Design, the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology, the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the School of Graduate Studies — with an additional Center for Continuing and Professional Studies. The product surface includes AAS, BFA, BS, MFA, and MS degree programs; credit and noncredit certificates (CLO 3D, Browzwear VStitcher, Gerber Accumark PDS, Unity XR, UX/UI, Predictive Analytics for Retail and Fashion); online degrees and minors; precollege programs; and global programs (FIT in Italy/Florence and Milan, FIT at SUNY Korea in Incheon/Songdo, plus study abroad and dual diploma pathways).

The institution's technology and facility footprint centers on the new 10-story LEED Gold-certified Joyce F. Brown Academic Building (opened October 2025, FIT's first new academic building in nearly 50 years), which houses the largest campus knitting and weaving facility in the U.S., alongside the DTech Lab, Innovation at FIT, and the Gladys Marcus Library's MakerMinds makerspace. AI capabilities are embedded in curriculum and research: an IBM × Tommy Hilfiger AI APIs research collaboration, InventorySmart integration in the Fashion Business Management curriculum, and CCPS certificates in CLO 3D and Browzwear VStitcher. Revenue mechanics are diversified across tuition and fees (differentiated by NYS residency, degree level, and program), Continuing and Professional Studies certificates, precollege fees, philanthropy via the FIT Foundation (more than $3M in scholarships in 2025), facility rentals, and corporate-sponsored talent programs. Marquee employer partnerships — Gap Inc.'s Doris Fisher Creators Program (30-student inaugural cohort, Fall 2026), Nordstrom's tailoring pipeline (10 of 15 inaugural cohort graduates hired), Roc Nation's student design competition ($20K first prize), and the IBM-Tommy Hilfiger AI APIs collaboration — function both as talent pipelines and as brand/curriculum currency. FIT also operates The Museum at FIT, the FIT Foundation, and a 2026 $34M Bezos Earth Fund research grant (with Columbia University) on bacteria-grown textile fibers, alongside APICCAPS footwear partnerships in Portugal, a Srishti Manipal Institute exhibition in Bengaluru, and CCPS digital fabrication certificates delivered via Online Learning.

Name

Fashion Institute of Technology

Legal name

Fashion Institute of Technology

Website

https://fitnyc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Fashion Institute of Technology is a public SUNY college founded in 1944 in New York City that offers undergraduate, graduate, precollege, and continuing education programs in design, fashion, art, communications, and business, with global delivery through FIT in Italy and FIT at SUNY Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education in Art, Design, Fashion, and Business

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Junior Colleges (6112)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fashion & Apparel Design Colleges (EDAHAJAF), Fashion & Textile Arts (Sewing, Patternmaking, Knitting, Crochet) (EDAAAGAK), Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE)

Keywords

• Art and design education
• Fashion business programs
• Continuing professional studies
• Study abroad programs
• Precollege creative courses

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and fees (degree programs): Primary revenue stream from undergraduate AAS/BFA, graduate master's, and certificate-degree students paying tuition, fees, and residential life costs. As a SUNY institution of higher education, FIT offers in-state NYS tuition and out-of-state tuition tiers with residency requirements; Pell grants, state grants, federal grants, scholarships, and federal work-study offset costs.
2. Continuing and Professional Studies (noncredit/credit certificates): Revenue from noncredit and credit certificate programs (CAD for Fashion Design, Millinery, Draping, Patternmaking, CLO 3D, Browzwear, UX/UI, Beauty Industry Essentials, etc.), company training, and the Intensive English Language program. Structured as standalone professional courses with separate registration.
3. Precollege programs (high school/middle school summer and Saturday courses): Fee-for-service precollege classes for high school and middle school students with structured pricing and payment methods, plus financial assistance scholarships (e.g., Nancy Yedlin, Amsale Aspire, Decorator's Club Discover Design).
4. Philanthropy and grants (FIT Foundation): Fundraising via the FIT Foundation, donor walk, planned giving, endowed scholarships, the FIT Annual Gala, Giving Day, and grants such as the Bob Fisch $1.5 million gift naming the Presentation Hall in the Joyce F. Brown Academic Building. In 2025 the FIT Foundation provided more than $3 million in scholarships.
5. Facility rentals and event services: Revenue from external and internal client reservations of FIT event spaces (Conference Center at FIT, John E. Reeves Great Hall, Morris W. and Fannie B. Haft Theater, Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, David Dubinsky Student Center, meeting rooms) with published rates and fees.
6. Corporate-sponsored talent programs: Industry-sponsored programs such as the Gap Inc./FIT Doris Fisher Creators Program (launching Fall 2026 with an inaugural cohort of 30 students) and the Roc Nation student design competition (with $20,000 first-place grant) create structured industry pipelines supported by employer partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fashion Institute of Technology is a SUNY-affiliated public college that delivers specialized higher-education programs in art, design, fashion, business, communications, and technology through undergraduate AAS/BFA/BS, graduate MFA/MS, continuing-education credit and noncredit certificates, online degrees, precollege courses, and study-abroad programs. It supplements degree instruction with industry co-branded talent pipelines (Gap Inc. Doris Fisher Creators Program, Nordstrom tailoring, Roc Nation design competition), AI-integrated curriculum, 3D garment visualization, and digital fabrication labs, all delivered on its NYC campus and international branch locations.

Product overview

Fashion Institute of Technology is a SUNY college of art and design, business, technology, and liberal arts whose product portfolio is organized around a platform-plus-modules architecture: the core academic platform is its undergraduate, graduate, and precollege degree programs organized into four schools (School of Art and Design, Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and School of Graduate Studies), with add-on modules including the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies (CCPS) credit and noncredit certificates, Online Learning degrees and minors, Global FIT (study abroad, SUNY Korea, dual diplomas), the Gladys Marcus Library, The Museum at FIT, the Innovation at FIT / DTech Lab, the Joyce F. Brown Academic Building facility, and industry partnerships such as The Doris Fisher Creators Program (Gap Inc.), the Nordstrom–FIT tailoring training partnership, and the IBM–FIT AI APIs for fashion research collaboration. AI is integrated into the curriculum through the FBM Course integrating AI Software (InventorySmart), the noncredit Predictive Analytics for Retail and Fashion certificate, and CCPS noncredit certificates covering CLO 3D Garment Visualization, Browzwear VStitcher, Gerber Accumark PDS, Unity XR, and UX/UI Design, supported institutionally by FIT's AI Best Practices guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Museum at FIT: The Museum at FIT, part of FIT, focused on fashion exhibitions and the Fashion Culture series.
• FIT Foundation
• Hue Magazine
• FIT Newsroom
• FIT Creative Nexus

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Two-year AAS, four-year BFA, and BS degrees across the School of Art and Design, the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology, and the School of Liberal Arts, including majors such as Fashion Design, Communication Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Business Management, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing, and International Trade and Marketing. Designed for prospective and enrolled undergraduate students applying via Freshman, Transfer, Evening/Weekend, 2+2 Pathway, International, or returning-student pathways with portfolio requirements for art and design majors.
• Graduate Degree Programs (School of Graduate Studies) Master's-level programs including Art Market Studies, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management, Exhibition and Experience Design, Fashion Design MFA, Fashion and Textile Studies, Global Fashion Management, and Illustration MFA. For graduate students pursuing specialized credentials in the creative economy with industry mentorship (e.g., Executive Mentor Program in CFMM).
• Center for Continuing and Professional Studies (CCPS) Certificates Credit and noncredit certificate programs for adult learners and career professionals, including CAD for Fashion Design, Draping Techniques, Patternmaking, Millinery, Performance Athletic Footwear, Haute Couture, Advanced CLO 3D Garment Visualization, Browzwear VStitcher, Gerber Accumark PDS, Unity XR (AR/MR/VR), UX/UI Design, Front-End Web Development, Predictive Analytics for Retail and Fashion, Image Consulting, and Sustainable Design Entrepreneurs. Designed for working adults, career changers, and industry professionals seeking short-form credentials.
• Online Learning Online degrees (AMC Online, Communication Design Online, FBM Online, ITM Online), online minors, online courses, blended learning, and live online training sessions delivered with student identity verification. Designed for remote learners and working professionals.
• Global FIT (Study Abroad and International Programs) FIT in Italy (Florence and Milan), Semester Study Abroad, Short-Term Study Abroad, Internships Abroad, COIL, FIT at SUNY Korea, Cultural Fellows program, Dual Diploma Programs, and Visiting/Exchange Student pathways. For current FIT students, first-year applicants, and international students seeking global creative-economy credentials.
• Precollege Programs High school and middle school Saturday/Sunday live courses, 10-day courses, 4-day workshops, and Summer Precollege Workshops/Courses in art, design, and business, with scholarship pathways such as the Amsale Aspire Scholarship and Nancy Yedlin Financial Assistance Scholarship. For younger students exploring creative careers before college and building portfolios for college applications.
• The Museum at FIT (MFIT) College museum hosting fashion and style exhibitions such as "Paris, Capital of Fashion," "Adapt / Evolve," and "Being Hyper Human," serving as a public-facing program of FIT open to visitors and supporting research and the Fashion Culture series.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3 million+ in scholarships distributed in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• APICCAPS (Portuguese Footwear Manufacturers' Association)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026APICCAPS is hosting FIT and London College of Fashion students in Portugal during June 2026 for factory and technology center visits, supported by Compete 2030. The initiative connects young international talent with Portugal's footwear and leather goods industry to foster innovation, future partnerships, and positioning Portuguese manufacturing at Milan, Paris, and New York fashion weeks.
• London College of FashionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026London College of Fashion and FIT are jointly hosting students at APICCAPS factory and technology center visits in Portugal during June 2026, supported by Compete 2030, to connect young international talent with Portugal's footwear and leather goods industry.
• Columbia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Columbia University is partnering with FIT on a Bezos Earth Fund–backed project to develop bacteria-grown textile fibers from agricultural waste as part of a $34 million grant initiative distributed across Columbia ($11.5M), UC Berkeley ($10M), Clemson ($11M), and the Cotton Foundation ($1.5M).
• Roc NationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Roc Nation and FIT announced Beatrice (Xuan) Mak as the winner of their inaugural student design competition, awarding a $20,000 grant as first-place prize, with $5,000 second place (Jiwon Park) and $3,000 third place (Zion Burrell). The first-place design will be developed and made available at retail later in 2026. The collaboration aims to celebrate creativity, access, and empower the next generation of fashion designers.
• Gap Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Gap Inc. and FIT launched The Doris Fisher Creators Program at the 2026 FIT Annual Gala. The mentorship initiative, named after Gap Inc. co-founder Doris Fisher, connects FIT students with Gap Inc. leaders and creatives through structured mentorship, launching Fall 2026 with an inaugural cohort of 30 students from Fashion Design, Graphic Design (Apparel), and Fabric Styling. It builds on Gap Inc.'s existing workforce development efforts including This Way ONward and its rotational management program.
• Richard Dickson (President & CEO, Gap Inc.)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 February 2026Fashion Institute of Technology announced that Richard Dickson, president and CEO of Gap Inc., will be honored as guest of honor at the FIT Annual Gala on April 14, 2026, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The gala, themed 'Threads of Impact,' celebrates Dickson's career achievements in brand reinvigoration from Mattel (Barbie) to Gap Inc. (since July 2023).
• Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Humanities (Bengaluru)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026FIT and Srishti Manipal Institute jointly curated the 'Being Hyper Human' photographic exhibition at Bengaluru's Venkatappa Art Gallery, featuring over 100 works by 27 individuals. The collaboration emerged from a 2024 visit by Mahesh Bhat, who connected with FIT's photography department chair and discovered shared student experiences across continents.
• Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2025The Bezos Earth Fund's 2025 partnership with CFDA is referenced as context for the 2026 $34M textile grants initiative, which now includes FIT as a partner institution on bacteria-grown textile fibers.
• NordstromcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Nordstrom–Fashion Institute of Technology partnership develops new skilled tailors in response to the U.S. tailoring labor shortage. The inaugural cohort of 15 students has already produced 10 graduates hired or being hired by Nordstrom, addressing declining workforce numbers (down 30% to fewer than 17,000 over a decade) and median tailor age of 54.
• IBM (with Tommy Hilfiger)flagshipTechnology or IntegrationIBM, Tommy Hilfiger, and FIT developed specialized AI APIs for fashion companies, supporting trend analysis, product development, supply chain optimization, and virtual try-on applications. The collaboration is cited as an example of major brands moving from AI testing to daily operational deployment across design, manufacturing, and retail functions.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ellen MacArthur Foundation's collaboration with Google on AI for circular fashion is referenced alongside IBM-FIT AI work as part of industry-wide research into AI-enabled circular systems spanning material sourcing, recycling, and upcycling.
• SUNY (State University of New York) Board of TrusteesflagshipOthersSUNY is FIT's parent institution. The SUNY Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Jason S. Schupbach as FIT's seventh president on January 15, 2026, following an eight-month nationwide search. FIT operates a SUNY Korea branch campus and participates in SUNY-wide grants, General Education Framework, and academic frameworks.
• University of Delaware; Circular Economy Institute; EIIS; Central Saint MartinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThese peer institutions are mentioned alongside FIT as offering online certifications and short courses in sustainable fashion focused on social responsibility, circular fashion, sustainable sourcing, and eco-friendly design.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Parsons School of Design (The New School): Parsons is FIT's most direct peer: a NYC-based specialized college of art and design offering BFA, MFA, and AAS-equivalent degrees in fashion design, fashion marketing, and related creative disciplines. Both compete for the same NYC applicant pool and brand partners in fashion and luxury; Parsons prices at a premium (private) while FIT competes on SUNY public-college value.
• Pratt Institute: Pratt is a NYC-based private college of art, design, and architecture offering BFA and MFA programs in fashion design, industrial design, graphic design, and communications design. Comparable in scale and creative-industry employer partnerships, with a private institution cost structure versus FIT's public SUNY model.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): RISD is a leading specialized art and design college offering BFA and graduate programs in apparel design, textiles, furniture design, graphic design, and industrial design. Comparable portfolio-driven admissions model and industry-embedded curriculum; FIT competes for overlapping undergraduate applicants with a NYC location advantage.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): SCAD is a private nonprofit specialized college of art and design offering BFA, MFA, and certificate programs across fashion, fibers, accessory design, and creative business. Comparable continuing-education catalog (SCADpro), industry partnerships, and career-services-driven talent pipeline.
• London College of Fashion (University of the Arts London): London College of Fashion is FIT's primary international peer — a UAL constituent college offering degree programs in fashion design, fashion business, and footwear, with documented joint activity (joint APICCAPS factory visits in Portugal with FIT students, June 2026). Comparable industry pipeline and credentialing model.
• Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London): Central Saint Martins is a globally preeminent art and design college offering fashion, textile, and product design degree programs. Referenced alongside FIT in University of Delaware peer comparators for sustainable fashion certifications; competes for top-tier international design talent and brand partnerships.
• Otis College of Art and Design: Otis is a Los Angeles-based specialized art and design college offering BFA degrees in fashion design, toy design, digital media, and product design. Comparable size, scope, and continuing-education portfolio targeting creative-industry employers; regional competitor for West Coast applicants.
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt): MassArt is the only publicly funded freestanding art college in the U.S., offering BFA and MFA programs in fashion design, illustration, and graphic design. The closest public-sector peer to FIT in mission and governance model; comparable tuition tier via state funding.

Emerging players

• Kent State University - College of the Arts / School of Fashion: Kent State's School of Fashion is a public-university-based fashion program offering BS and MFA degrees with industry-embedded curriculum. Comparable public-institution model and price point; less specialized than FIT but competes for mid-tier applicants.

Broad incumbents

• Drexel University - Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design: Drexel's Westphal College is where incoming FIT president Jason S. Schupbach previously served as dean. Comparable BFA programs in fashion design, graphic design, and digital media, with a co-op-based industry pipeline; broader university structure versus FIT's specialized college model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FIT
• Facebookfacebook.com/437986385314

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fashion Institute of Technology