FIT was founded in 1944 to prepare men and women for work in the fashion industry as it grew in size and scope. Seven years later, FIT became one of the first community colleges empowered under the program of the State University of New York to grant the Associate in Applied Science degree. As the curricula expanded beyond the fashion industry to include business, communications, and design, the college’s degree offerings also expanded. In 1975, an amendment to the education law of New York State was approved permitting the college to confer Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. Four years later, another amendment authorized the granting of master’s degrees, and the first master’s programs were introduced in 1985.
FIT now offers its students 49 degree programs not only in fashion-related fields, but also in many other creative and business professions that have made New York City their focal point. Students who come to the college to study these specialized programs are goal-oriented, setting their sights high in their chosen fields of study. Today, more than 10,000 U.S. and international students are enrolled in FIT’s diverse curricula, attending classes day and evening, year round, online and on campus, in New York City, throughout the country, and around the world.
FIT is a public institution, receiving its principal financial support from the State and City of New York. The college is governed by its Board of Trustees, whose members are active professionals committed to developing talent. Local sponsorship comes from the New York City Department of Education in cooperation with the FIT Foundation. FIT is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267.284.5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. FIT is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (nasad.arts-accredit.org ) and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (accredit-id.org ).
FIT Mission
The Fashion Institute of Technology prepares students for professional excellence in design, fashion, and business by providing a premier educational experience that fosters creativity, career focus, and a global perspective.
To fulfill its mission, FIT:
- develops students’ aesthetic, intellectual, analytical, and technological abilities through programs that integrate theory and practice;
- offers students a rigorous and innovative curriculum taught by a faculty with outstanding academic and industry experience;
- is committed to a broad-based education in the liberal arts;
- exposes students to their chosen professions through internships, guest lectures, industry-sponsored projects, and other opportunities for experiential learning;
- promotes student growth and development through student support services, programs, and activities;
- provides students with a multifaceted educational experience incorporating the vast resources of New York City;
- is an urban institution of the State University of New York, providing an education of exceptional quality and affordability.
FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws (including but not limited to race, national origin, gender, age, and disability) and to providing equal opportunity in educational programs.