FIDM transition FAQs

Why is FIDM refocusing the college? 

FIDM began a process to identify a sustainable, long-term solution that enabled it to continue its mission of educating students interested in fashion and creative careers. After careful consideration and review of options, the FIDM Governing Board determined that ASU would be the ideal institution to maintain the FIDM legacy due to shared goals, vision for higher education, service to students, and the academic reputation of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, and to focus its future on business in the creative industries.

Will there be a new name for FIDM? 

Yes, ASU is expanding its fashion program to Los Angeles and renaming it as ASU FIDM.

Why is ASU taking such a big interest in LA? 

With activity around the world and aspirations for global impact, ASU looks for dynamic places to engage. Because Los Angeles is a global city and the gateway to the West Coast and Asia Pacific, we have spent many years developing a robust network of relationships, partnerships and collaborations across California.

The Herald Examiner Building — home to the ASU California Center — is the perfect central location for us to cultivate connections throughout the state and the world and pursue opportunities for educational, economic and societal progress. Making education more inclusive means making it more accessible to people who may have historically been denied access. Forty-seven percent of ASU’s incoming first-year students in fall 2022 came from underrepresented backgrounds and 34% of ASU’s undergraduates are first-generation college students.

ASU has 62,000 alumni living in California and 20,000 current California residents as degree-seeking students, and 13% of our graduates overall are working in California. ASU has transfer partnerships with all 116 California community colleges.

To support more learners in California, ASU offers many top-ranked undergraduate and graduate programs in Los Angeles. You can read more about ASU in California at california.asu.edu.

Are there changes in leadership?

FIDM’s current leadership will continue and work alongside ASU leadership.  

Will ASU be hiring additional faculty and staff for ASU FIDM?

Yes, there will be employment opportunities at ASU FIDM in Los Angeles and Phoenix. 

What will happen to FIDM’s building? 

ASU FIDM will continue to operate out of 919 S Grand Avenue in Los Angeles. Students who utilized the building for their program of study will continue to do so. 

What does the ASU FIDM transition mean for current students?

FIDM’s and ASU’s joint expertise and innovation around fashion and the creative industries offers students access to a top-tier curriculum with opportunities in Los Angeles and Phoenix. ASU FIDM gives students the opportunity to connect their creative education with a broader interdisciplinary education — with thousands of courses in every discipline available to complement their fashion education, both in person and online.

ASU’s Herberger Institute is the largest comprehensive design and arts college in the country, with 7,800+ students, more than 700 faculty members, 130 program options and a tradition of top-ranked programs. The Herberger Institute is built on a combination of disciplines unlike any other program in the nation, comprising the School of Art; the School of Arts, Media and Engineering; the School of Music, Dance and Theatre; The Design School; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School; and the ASU Art Museum.

ASU’s emerging fashion program is already at the forefront of the industry, forming partnerships with industry and local collaborators across interdisciplinary fields and winning national awards. Launched in 2017 and led by Program Director and Professor of Practice Dennita Sewell, an accomplished fashion curator, professor and writer, the program exceeded its enrollment goals almost immediately and has continued to grow. Additional ASU fashion faculty include Galina Mihaleva, who leads Fashion and Wearable Technology, Danielle Testa, who leads the Business track, and Alexander Snyder, who leads Fashion Technology initiatives with Optitex and Career Catalyst, a new program that supports the development of fashion industry professionals.

The ASU FIDM program offers state-of-the-art technology at Fusion on First in downtown Phoenix. This high-tech innovation hub features a suite of industry-standard studio spaces and recording studios, digital media labs, performance spaces, and an interdisciplinary makerspace with laser cutters, 3D printers, felting and industrial knitting machines, and more. Students can extend their collaboration and creative conversations into their residential living quarters for a seamless live-work space that optimizes the creativity and enterprise of ASU students in the heart of a rapidly growing downtown.

Like most creative industries today, fashion is entering a new era; with new technology come new jobs, new connections to manufacturing, new retail experiences and new worlds in the metaverse connected to all areas of fashion. ASU is thrilled to expand as ASU FIDM. FIDM is one of the leading fashion schools in the world, a legacy organization that has 70,000 alumni, plus global industry relations and networks, located in a key city for the emerging fashion market. We look forward to helping students continue their stories.

Can current FIDM students complete their degree at FIDM?

FIDM will continue to grant degrees in the fashion and design programs in the near term during the transition to ASU FIDM. Students who complete their degree with FIDM during that time will receive a FIDM diploma. As students continue into ASU programming to pursue a credential, they will receive an ASU diploma upon completion of their studies.

FIDM will continue to award degrees in business programs.

FIDM students are strongly encouraged to contact an ASU admission representative as soon as possible at asufidm@asu.edu to receive individualized advising. ASU will review students’ current progress toward their degree and help them determine if they should complete their degree at FIDM or continue to ASU FIDM. 

Will I have to move to Phoenix to enroll in ASU FIDM?

No, ASU FIDM will operate full degree programs in both LA and Phoenix, leveraging the best of both locations to provide students with a variety of robust educational programs and experiences.

While students have the choice to enroll in ASU FIDM in either Los Angeles or on the Downtown Phoenix campus in Arizona, all fashion students at ASU, regardless of location, will have access to the creative community of the Herberger Institute, including events, clubs, internships, study abroad and industry connections that span both cities. 

Does ASU offer an AA degree in fashion?

ASU FIDM will not offer an AA degree in fashion. Students currently enrolled in an AA program are strongly encouraged to contact an ASU admission representative as soon as possible at asufidm@asu.edu to receive individualized advising. ASU, in partnership with FIDM advisors, will review students’ current progress toward their AA degree and help them determine if they should complete their degree at FIDM or continue to ASU FIDM.

Does ASU offer a fashion degree program online?

ASU does not currently offer fashion degree programs online. Alongside a robust portfolio of classes offered in Los Angeles, ASU offers thousands of online courses that campus-based students can take as part of their curriculum.

What will my diploma say — FIDM or ASU?

FIDM will continue to grant degrees in the fashion programs in the near term. Students who complete their credential with FIDM during that time will receive a FIDM diploma. As students continue into ASU programming to pursue a degree, they will receive an ASU diploma upon completion of their studies.

Will I have to apply to ASU? 

Students will be able to take advantage of a streamlined application process with a personalized review related to admission criteria. Our admission advisors will be connecting with current FIDM students to go over the process.

How do I let ASU know that I am interested in continuing?

You can fill out the short Request Info form and an ASU admission representative will contact you to start the process.

Is there an application fee to continue to ASU?

No, ASU is committed to current FIDM students seamlessly transitioning to the university. The application fee will be waived for current FIDM students who wish to continue to ASU. Connect with an ASU admission representative at asufidm@asu.edu to learn how to waive your fee.

Is there a deadline to continue to ASU FIDM? 

Current FIDM students should transfer to ASU by the spring 2024 semester in order to take advantage of a seamless credit transfer to ASU.

How can I learn more about continuing to ASU FIDM?

Your first step is to fill out the short Request Info form. You can also use the site to connect with an ASU admission representative and see details about how to attend an information session, set up a one-on-one appointment or email your questions.

When is the earliest I can start classes at ASU? 

You can apply now for ASU’s fall semester, which begins Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. Students admitted for fall can begin taking classes in ASU’s summer session. The summer session B courses begin Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Can I continue taking classes in LA at ASU FIDM if I am an international student?

ASU is currently in the process of receiving SEVIS certification to provide I-20s for F-1 students at ASU FIDM’s Los Angeles location. We are able to provide I-20s at our Downtown Phoenix campus for the fall 2023 semester and encourage international students to enroll. Once ASU is certified at our Los Angeles location, students will have the option to transfer. Please contact asufidm@asu.edu with any questions.

How do I transfer my I-20 to ASU? 

Current international students with an active SEVIS record at FIDM should follow the Request Transfer SEVIS Form I-20 instructions here after completing the admission process to ASU FIDM. Once all required documents are uploaded in My ASU for the I-20, ASU Admission Services will begin the process of creating the transfer I-20.

What will tuition and fees be moving forward?

To help make the transition as seamless as possible, ASU will ensure that all current FIDM students who continue at ASU FIDM will pay no more than the total amount they paid in tuition and fees at FIDM in the 2022–2023 academic year.

Because the total cost of attendance is dependent on each student’s individual circumstances, all FIDM students will receive individual advisement regarding their cost of attendance during the transfer process.

Can I get financial aid?

ASU is only authorized to administer federal financial aid to students enrolled in academic programs based in Arizona. The Fashion, BA offered by ASU FIDM is not currently eligible for federal financial aid for students enrolled in the Los Angeles location. However, qualified students can receive other forms of financial aid from ASU in the form of scholarships and grants, or students can apply for private loans.

Current FIDM students who want more information about the continuation process and cost of attendance should request information at asufidm@asu.edu.

Do I need to resubmit my portfolio when applying to ASU?

No, you will not need to submit any portfolios when applying.

Will I need to do gen ed courses at ASU that I did not need at FIDM?

Students coming into ASU FIDM Fashion BA with an already completed AA from FIDM will meet lower division general education requirements.

Can current ASU students complete their degree at ASU FIDM in Los Angeles?

Current ASU students interested in the ASU FIDM program in Los Angeles should contact asufidm@asu.edu for more information.

Does ASU FIDM offer graduate degree programs?

At this time, ASU FIDM does not offer any graduate degree programs.

What about high school students who applied and planned to attend FIDM in the fall?

Admitted FIDM students can fill out the short Request Info form and an ASU admission representative will provide next steps with the intent to honor the acceptance of any high school student who applied and was granted admission to FIDM for the spring, summer or fall 2023 term.

If I planned to enroll as a FIDM student, will I have to move to Phoenix to enroll in ASU FIDM?

No, ASU FIDM will operate full degree programs in both LA and Phoenix, leveraging the best of both locations to provide students with a variety of robust educational programs and experiences.

While students have the choice to enroll in ASU FIDM in either Los Angeles or on the Downtown Phoenix campus in Arizona, all fashion students at ASU, regardless of location, will have access to the creative community of the Herberger Institute, including events, clubs, internships, study abroad and industry connections that span both cities.

What is the admission criteria to attend ASU FIDM? 

You can review admission criteria here.

I was considering applying to FIDM. Can I apply to attend ASU FIDM in Los Angeles?

Yes, ASU FIDM is accepting new students for fall 2023 in Los Angeles and Phoenix. Please review next steps for applying on the Admission tab.

How will housing work? 

ASU is working with current housing providers along with existing partnerships established by ASU in the downtown LA area to ensure housing is available to students.

Can I get financial aid?

ASU is only authorized to administer federal financial aid to students enrolled in academic programs based in Arizona. The Fashion, BA offered by ASU FIDM is not currently eligible for federal financial aid for students enrolled in the Los Angeles location. However, qualified students can receive other forms of financial aid from ASU in the form of scholarships and grants, or students can apply for private loans.

Current FIDM students who want more information about the continuation process and cost of attendance should request information at asufidm@asu.edu.

Am I eligible for any institutional awards?

Arizona State University awards merit scholarships, called New American University scholarships, to incoming first-year students with outstanding academic abilities.

Does ASU FIDM offer graduate degree programs?

At this time, ASU FIDM does not offer any graduate degree programs.