LIM College is having a moment. Heading toward its 85th anniversary next year, the Midtown Manhattan-based college has always focused on the business side of the industry and adhered to a highly experiential and personalized style of education. Due to its effectiveness, LIM has quietly built a reputation as a strong partner to the industry, which relies on the college to graduate knowledgeable, experienced and professionally savvy talent from around the world who are ready to take on roles in fashion and lifestyle.
LIM College has increasingly stepped into the spotlight with students who have consistently been taking top honors in major industry competitions, alums who are employed by the most notable names in the business and a career outcomes rate that is a new high for the college, with 96 percent of its 2022 graduates working in the business of fashion and lifestyle or continuing their studies within six months of graduation.
Just this year, LIM students came out on top in several national competitions, including earning the top scholarship prize (Chairman’s Award) from the Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF), the National Retail Federation Foundation’s highly prized “Next Generation” Scholarship, and, most recently, LIM College students won five out of the nine scholarships awarded by Licensing International.
LIM students are also perennially successful in scholarship programs and competitions sponsored by BRAG (the organization that prepares students of color for leadership in retail and fashion), the Underfashion Club, Educators for Socially Responsible Apparel Practices and more. In addition, LIM students have been awarded scholarships and exclusive learning opportunities through course-based projects and competitions with the Accessories Council, Authentic Brands Group, Saga Furs, Free People and many others.
In his senior year at LIM in 2023, Clay Lute earned the top scholarship award from the Fashion Scholarship Fund.
“We are so proud of our students who work incredibly hard to embrace the opportunities available at and through LIM College,” said LIM President Elizabeth S. Marcuse. “Our students’ success speaks volumes, and they deserve credit for taking advantage of all that we have to offer, including the mentorship of our faculty who work in the industry and bring their real-world experiences and connections into our personalized learning environment.”
Students can also take advantage of opportunities offered by the 2,000 industry partners who are in LIM’s internship and employment pipeline. The college, which offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, has a flexible educational model for students to complete courses in-person, online or through hybrid learning. LIM students come from around the world and in the 2022-2023 academic year they completed internships with notable names such as Christian Louboutin, Tiffany & Co., Nordstrom, Coach and Saks Fifth Avenue, among many others.
A wide range of employers, including Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus, LVMH, Walmart, Edie Parker, the TJX Companies, Macy’s, the Financial Times, Gucci, Ulta Beauty, Marvel Entertainment, Kith and many more have hired recent LIM graduates.
The college has continued to evolve its academic offerings to reflect the ever-changing needs of the industry. Recently added programs include a master’s degree in Consumer Analytics, as well as minors in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Sustainability.
Elizabeth S. Marcuse has been president of LIM College since 2002.
In 2022, LIM College expanded into the lifestyle sector by offering degree programs in “The Business of Cannabis,” a burgeoning industry with many parallels to fashion that is expected to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs nationally going forward. This year, the school became the first college in the U.S. to offer a master of professional studies degree in the business of cannabis.
“LIM College offers constantly evolving and relevant degree programs that reflect what is happening now and into the future,” said Marcuse. “The business of fashion and lifestyle is constantly transforming, and so are we. Staying current is of paramount importance.”
LIM recently announced that it has deepened its commitment to master’s degree programming and has named graduate studies at the college in honor of its founder, Maxwell F. Marcuse. Beginning in the fall 2024 semester, LIM College’s Marcuse School of Graduate Studies will offer expanded master’s degree programs with new specializations and business STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) designations.
“It is an exciting time for us,” Marcuse said. “We are thrilled to see LIM graduates making their mark throughout the industry in areas that include buying, merchandising, planning, marketing, PR, supply chain, media, and more throughout fashion, beauty, entertainment, technology, the business of cannabis, and other sectors. We are so proud of where we have been and so excited about where we are going.”
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