Opportunity College
A new Student Access and Earnings Classification recognizes institutions that foster
opportunities for student success
FIT's Designation
The Fashion Institute of Technology has been designated as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. The Opportunity School classification recognizes FIT as an institution that can serve as a model for studying how campuses can foster student success. It highlights FIT as a place where students get the support and real-world tools they need to succeed.
The Opportunity School designation is part of a newly developed classification that looks closes at how colleges help students thrive. This is based on:
- how successfully a school enrolls students reflective of the communities it serves
- whether graduates go on to earn competitive salaries compared to peers in their area
Out of thousands of colleges across the country, FIT is among just 16% to earn this distinction in 2025.
» Learn more about 2025 Student Earnings and Access Classifications
About the Carnegie Classification
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed the classification in 1973 to support its program of research and policy analysis, and it was updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2025 to reflect changes among colleges and universities. It will next be updated in 2028, with subsequent updates every three years.
About the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, Pell Grants, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education.
About the American Council on Education
ACE unites and leads higher education institutions toward a shared vision for the future. With more than 1,600 member colleges, universities, and associations, ACE designs solutions for today’s challenges and advances public policy to support a diverse and dynamic higher education sector. Learn more about ACE.