Greenwich Village is Parsons' home, in a cluster of New School buildings around Fifth Avenue and 13th Street. Founded in 1896, it's one of the best-known art and design schools anywhere, and its fashion programme produced designers such as Marc Jacobs and Donna Karan. Studio work runs alongside courses in design strategy, technology and social research. There's a smaller campus in Paris.
New York, New York, United States
Official website: newschool.edu
Top 5 in the world
The New School
1896
New York and Paris
$58,000 – $64,000
International students, full-time undergraduate and graduate tuition
$25,000 – $35,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on newschool.edu before you apply.
BFA Fashion Design
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 92
BFA Communication Design
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 92
MFA Design and Technology
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 92
MS Strategic Design and Management
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 92
MFA Fashion Design and Society
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 92
Fashion alumni including Marc Jacobs and Donna Karan.
Studios a few blocks from Union Square.
Design taught alongside The New School's social science departments.
Fashion graduates join New York labels, from large houses to small Garment District studios.
Communication design graduates work at agencies, tech firms and publishers.
F-1 graduates can apply for OPT; check whether your programme is STEM-designated.
Undergrad
Mid-January deadline
Postgrad
Mostly January deadlines
Undergrad
Selected programmes
Postgrad
Selected programmes
Parsons' buildings sit between Union Square and Washington Square Park, with the University Center at 63 Fifth Avenue at the heart of things. Several subway lines stop at 14th Street.
New York is expensive, and first-year students usually live in New School residence halls. After that, many share apartments in Brooklyn or Queens and commute in.
Form I-20 issued by The New School
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate regular decision applications are usually due in mid-January for fall, with an earlier non-binding deadline in November. Graduate deadlines vary by programme, most falling in January or February. Studio programmes need a portfolio.
Most programmes start in the fall. A few undergraduate majors and graduate programmes also admit in spring.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, The New School issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Fashion design, communication design, design and technology, strategic design and management, and fashion design and society are popular. Undergraduates submit a portfolio and the Parsons Challenge; graduate applicants need a relevant degree and portfolio. Expect IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 92.
Parsons gives merit scholarships to international students, decided at admission from the application and portfolio. Awards rarely cover full tuition, so plan for most of the cost.
