We believe students and families deserve clear, transparent information when evaluating the value of a college education. This page provides a detailed comparison of LIM College and peer institutions across key measures of return on investment, including post-graduation earnings, net cost, and career outcomes.
All data is sourced from publicly available federal and institutional reporting and reflects the most recent available information.
How LIM Compares
LIM is ahead of the fashion pack! Take a side-by-side look at median earnings, net cost, and career outcomes across comparable institutions.
|
SCHOOL |
MEDIAN SALARY |
NET COST |
CAREER OUTCOMES RATE |
|
LIM College |
$65,284 |
$20,569 |
95% (6 months) |
|
Pratt Institute |
$61,127 |
$35,824 |
92% (12 months) |
|
Parsons School of Design (The New School) |
$59,586 |
$36,520 |
80% (3-12 months) |
|
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
$58,787 |
$16,340 |
76% (timeline unknown) |
|
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
$51,102 |
$28,746 |
91% (12 months) |
What These Metrics Mean
Median Salary
The annual median inflation-adjusted earnings four years after graduation of students who received federal financial aid, according to the U.S. Department of Education earning's indicator. This helps indicate long-term earning potential.
Net Cost
The average annual cost after scholarships and financial aid are applied. This reflects what students typically pay, not the listed tuition.
Career Outcomes Rate
The percentage of graduates working in the industry for which they studied (or related field) or continuing their education within a defined timeframe after graduation.
Why LIM Performs Strongly
LIM is built around one goal: getting students career-ready.
Real Experience, Built In
Internships are required, so students graduate with hands-on experience and industry connections.
Curriculum That Matches the Industry
Programs are aligned with real careers in fashion and lifestyle, not just theory.
NYC = Opportunity
In the heart of the industry, students have direct access to top employers and networking year-round.
Career Focus from Day One
From the start, students build the skills, experience, and confidence to launch their careers.
Methodology & Sources
While every institution reports data slightly differently, we’ve used the most comparable, publicly available metrics to provide as close to an apples-to-apples view as possible.
Median Salary
Salary data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard earnings indicator.
This metric reflects the median annual earnings of undergraduate students who received federal financial aid, measured four years after graduation and adjusted for inflation. It is designed to provide a standardized view of post-graduation earning potential across institutions.
Net Cost
Net cost figures reflect average net price, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education through IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System).
This represents the average annual cost paid by full-time, first-time undergraduate students after grant and scholarship aid is applied, including: federal aid, state and local aid, and institutional aid.
For institutions that charge different tuition rates based on residency, IPEDS calculates net price using the lower of the in-state or in-district tuition rate.
Important Context When Comparing Schools
Some public institutions, such as FIT, offer lower tuition for in-state students. Because IPEDS uses the lower in-state rate in its calculation, their reported average net price reflects this reduced cost.
LIM College does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state tuition. Our tuition is the same for all students.
As a result, while FIT may appear lower cost in IPEDS data, this primarily reflects New York State residents. For out-of-state students, LIM’s cost is often comparable or lower when evaluated on an equivalent basis.
Career Outcomes Rate
Rates are based on institutional reporting, typically following the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) standards.
These rates represent the percentage of graduates who are employed or continuing their education within a defined timeframe after graduation. Because reporting timelines can vary by institution (e.g., 6 months vs. 12 months), specific timeframes are noted in the chart.
Sources by institution:
