Parsons School of Design is an art and design school in New York City. It is part of The New School, a university in New York.
At a glance
| Founded | 1896, as the Chase School |
| Location | Greenwich Village, New York City, United States |
| Part of | The New School |
| Students | More than 5,700 |
| Sister school | Parsons Paris (Paris, France) |
| Degrees | Associate (AAS), bachelor’s (BFA), master’s (MA, MFA, MPS, M.Arch) |
What is it?
Parsons began in 1896, when the artist William Merritt Chase opened the Chase School in New York. Today it is called Parsons School of Design.
It teaches many kinds of art and design, not only fashion: communication design, illustration, product design, fine arts, lighting, architecture and more.
Parsons Paris is a separate school in Paris that also belongs to The New School. Its courses are based on Parsons’ programmes in New York.
Subjects you can study
- Fashion Design
- Fashion Design and Society
- Fashion Management
- Communication Design
- Design and Technology
- Illustration
- Fine Arts
- Product Design
- Integrated Design
- Lighting Design
- Transdisciplinary Design
- Architecture
Fashion courses you can study
These are the fashion programmes Parsons lists, with their official names:
Undergraduate
- Fashion Design (BFA, bachelor's degree)
- Fashion Design (AAS, associate degree)
Graduate
- Fashion Design and Society (MFA)
- Fashion Management (MPS)
- Fashion Studies (MA)
How to apply
- Parsons has separate application routes for first-year undergraduates, transfer students, graduate students, associate degree students and international students.
- First-year undergraduate applicants send a visual portfolio, and Parsons advises sending it as soon as you get the link.
- Tuition, fees and scholarships are listed on Parsons’ own pages.
Entry requirements, fees and deadlines change every year. Always check the official website before you apply.
Sources
- Parsons homepage
- Parsons history
- Parsons undergraduate programmes
- Parsons graduate programmes
- How to apply (undergraduate)
- Parsons Paris
All facts on this page come from the official website of Parsons. Last checked: 31 October 2026.