Accreditation for the B.S. in Fashion Merchandising
The Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising is offered by the David R. Hayworth School of Arts and Design and is covered by High Point University’s institutional accreditation from SACSCOC. That accreditation also covers the minors in fashion merchandising and visual merchandising design.
What Accreditation Means for Graduates
Graduate programs such as LIM College and HPU’s M.A. in Communication and Business Leadership look for a degree from an institutionally accredited university.
The program’s verified outcomes are published year by year on the Fashion Merchandising program page.
NASAD and the School of Arts and Design
High Point University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the accrediting body for art and design curricula in the United States. Fashion Merchandising shares the school with NASAD-accredited art and design degrees and the CIDA-accredited Interior Design program.
University Accreditation
High Point University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and has been continuously accredited since 1951. SACSCOC has granted HPU Level V status, which authorizes a university to award doctoral degrees.
Student Achievement
Brands and agencies that have hired Fashion Merchandising graduates include Bulgari, Victoria’s Secret & Co., FARM Rio, Veronica Beard, Jovani, Natori and Kontoor Brands.
Students have interned at CHANEL, Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, Neiman Marcus, Oscar de la Renta, Tory Burch, Restoration Hardware and Victoria’s Secret. Designers including Alexander Julian and Stuart Weitzman have spoken to HPU students on campus.
Recognition for Undergraduate Research
The Council on Undergraduate Research named High Point University the recipient of its 2025 Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments, judged against CUR’s Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research.
U.S. News & World Report Rankings
In U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2027 edition, High Point University was named the #1 Most Innovative Regional University in the South and ranked #3 for Best Undergraduate Teaching. The same edition ranked HPU #1 of 152 schools in the category for Earnings by Major and #5 overall. It also placed #3 for Top Private Schools in the category, and HPU ranks #17 nationally for Best First-Year Experiences.
What Do Fashion Merchandising Students Say About the Program?
Fashion Merchandising at HPU is part of the David R. Hayworth School of Arts and Design, and High Point University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Students in Fashion Merchandising and related majors such as Interior Design and Graphic Design describe what that preparation means for their careers.
Sydney Brett
Fashion Merchandising major · Public Relations and Marketing Assistant, Jovani
“My most impactful moment at HPU was when I received the Fashion and Merchandising Growth Mindset Award.”
Reilly Gallagher
Fashion Merchandising major · Assistant Buyer, Rent the Runway
“High Point University’s Fashion Merchandising program built my foundation in retail math, buying strategy, design and trend forecasting.”
Faye Lynch
Fashion Merchandising major · Coordinator, Marie Oliver
“During the fall semester of my senior year, I was required to have an internship as part of my major. This is how I started working at Marie Oliver.”
Explore Fashion Merchandising at High Point University
Fashion Merchandising at High Point University pairs a required internship with access to the High Point Market.
Curriculum & Research Careers & Student Organizations
Questions about the program? Email Jane Nichols at [email protected].