When it comes to post-graduation earnings, early career LIM College alums are ahead of the fashion pack. So says a new indicator launched by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).
The DOE launched the new earnings indicator in December of 2025. It intends to show how degrees from individual schools connect to real-world earnings, so that prospective students—and their families—can make data-driven decisions when selecting which college to attend.
Designed as a complement to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, the earnings indicator provides data on how much an institution’s undergrads who received federal financial aid earn on an annual basis four years following graduation.
The indicator shows that the annual median inflation-adjusted earnings of LIM grads ($65,284) exceed those of leading national fashion and art-focused institutions, including FIT ($58,787), SCAD ($51,102), The New School (Parsons) ($59,586), and Pratt ($61,127).
Says LIM President Ron Marshall, “It is no surprise that the median earnings of LIM grads rank higher than those of other well-known institutions on this new federal indicator. Since 1939, LIM has focused on preparing students for career success in the business of fashion with a strong emphasis on learning by doing and real-world experience.”
Continued Marshall, “Students and their families choose LIM College because of our industry-aligned approach—and because outcomes matter. Viewed together with our Career Outcomes Rate of 95% for the Class of 2024, students and their families can see that choosing LIM prepares students for financial stability and career momentum.”
