LIM College

• Established: 1939
• Location: New York, USA
• Students age: from 18 years.
• Number of students: 1800 people
• Language of instruction: English
• Type of study: private university.

About eighty years ago, Maxwell F. Marcuse, an authority and pioneer in education and retail, was invited by leading retailers to create an educational institution for the fashion and merchandising business. In 1939, Mr Marcuse founded the Laboratory Merchandising Institute (LIM), which became the LIM College in 2009.

LIM College takes an experiential approach to education: it is the best way to learn how aspects of the global fashion business interact, offering the knowledge and skills to thrive.

The College offers faculty members with extensive experience in their respective fields, including contemporary fashion and business professionals. Basic courses teach the foundational skills required in any field, including the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and analyze data.

The training includes the necessary internships, the application and development of skills, establishing professional contacts. Guest speakers, industry competitions and special projects, and visits to fashion companies provide an opportunity to link learning and work.

The training is designed with future work in the fashion and retail industry in mind.

The curriculum includes lectures, seminars, practical assignments and group projects; students actively work on real industry tasks: analyzing the market, studying brand operations, sales planning, and promotion of fashion goods.

Some disciplines are conducted in a studio format: these include classes on visual merchandising, photography, styling, and creating visual content for fashion brands.

The following departments operate at the college:

• Business Department — programs related to business management, marketing, and brand development in the fashion industry,
• Fashion Merchandising and Marketing Department — training of specialists in merchandising, assortment management, purchasing, and promotion of fashion goods,
• Visual Studies Department — tracks focused on visual merchandising, styling, photography, and visual communications
• Arts and Sciences Department — general education subjects: humanities and social sciences, communications, cultural history,
• Marcuse School of Graduate Studies — a graduate studies unit where programs are implemented in fashion marketing, fashion business management, supply chains, and luxury brands.

• Initially, the educational institution admitted only women; men were granted the opportunity to enroll there only in 1971.
• Students have their own media outlet — The Lexington Line: it is a magazine and online platform where articles about fashion, culture, business, and New York City life are published.
• In 2025, LIM College joined the international educational group JEF Education Group, which manages a number of specialized fashion and design schools.
• The college's academic programs include unusual courses related to modern fashion culture: for example, classes on style and visual presentation are held, the study of trends, and courses dedicated to the influence of pop culture on the fashion industry.

Room features

Room Features offers rooms equipped with everything you need to live in New York:

• 1-2-3-bed rooms
• Furnished with a double bed, a desk with a chair, dressers
• Own restroom
• Flat screen TV
• Cable channels
• Wireless Internet
• Refrigerator (small size).

Building Amenities

• 24/7 reception, security and surveillance
• Key card for entering the building, room
• Communal kitchen
• Laundry service
• post office
• ATM machine in the building
• Hydration station
• Game room
• Fitness center
• Cabinets
• Vending machines.

The cost of living is $ 8673 / year.

Lexington Line, LIM College's student magazine, provides an opportunity to publish original content about fashion, beauty, culture, life in LIM, interacting with New York and the fashion world.

Students participate in several different community events each year, including Mercado Global, Housing Works, The New York Relief Bus, New York Cares, National Drive. The student organization Sophomore Year Experience and Transfer is organizing an alternative spring trip to the Stony Kill Foundation.

Commuter club - Meet fellow students at the commuter club: it represents the interests, needs and concerns of commuter students. Lunch meetings make it easy for any commuter student to take part.

Clubs:

• Black Retail Action Group (BRAG)
• Blog club
• Book Club
• Corporate Social Responsibility Club
• Cosmetics club
• Academic Club
• Fashion Show Production Club
• Fashion styling club
• Film and Television Society
• Global student club
• Alumni Programming Council (GAP)
• Event Planning Club
• Lexington Line
• Academic Club
• LGBTQ + alliance
• LIM Dance Team
• Performing Arts Club
• National Retail Students Association (NRFSA)
• Academic Club
• Charity club
• Student Leadership Council (SLC)
• Student Life Council (SLAB)
• Event Planning Club
• Sustainable Development Club
• Vintage club
• Visual Arts Club.

• LIM College fosters a unique link between real world experience and academic teaching in business principles. LIM College offers students the opportunity to become professionals in the dynamic global fashion world.
• LIM College invites professors who understand the fashion business inside and out, professors of the humanities who teach to think critically and communicate clearly.
• Training invites students to realize their full intellectual and professional potential by acquiring the knowledge and skills that enable them to compete in the global fashion business.
• LIM College combines a focused curriculum with the required internship. The success of this approach is reflected in the outstanding employment rates after graduation.
• LIM alumni become leaders in the world of fashion business, benefit from professional mentorship, career opportunities that the alumni network presents.
• At the LIM job fair, students meet with dozens of fashion brands, hone their networking skills, and take big strides in the fashion business.
• From luxury brands to retail giants; PR and marketing of firms for publishers; entertainment turns into seasoned startups - students gain opportunities in industry leading companies, skills and experience to turn those opportunities into full-time positions.
• LIM alumni gain incredible hands-on industry experience through their immersion in New York City fashion from day one. These are professionals who excel in the workplace - with ambition, leadership skills, a global understanding of the fashion business.

• Technology resources: Canvas, library databases, online job bank, IT support.
• Bookstore: Order textbooks, stock the latest equipment at LIM College Bookstore: from teaching materials to clothing, branded T-shirts, consumables.
• Transportation: The Student Life Office provides transportation for students who do not reside on the LIM campus.

• Registration fee for new students (non-refundable) - $ 400
• Complex fee (for bachelors) - $ 410
• Each additional loan above the maximum load (19 credits) - $ 927
• Zero credit course - $ 650
• Independent research (for a loan) - $ 927
• Student insurance against accidents, illnesses - 2000 $
• International Student Visa Service Fee (Fall and Spring Only) - $ 500
• Complex fee (for masters) - $ 200
• International student visa service fee - $ 500
• International PhD student - 350 $
• Books and supplies per semester - $ 360.

The admission process takes place in several stages.

1. First, the applicant submits an application for the chosen program and sends the necessary documents.
2. Then the admissions committee reviews the candidacy. In some cases, additional information may be requested or an interview conducted, after which the applicant receives a decision on admission (or not).
3. If accepted, the applicant must confirm their intention to study and pay a registration deposit.

In 2024, 1,432 applications were submitted for bachelor's programs, of which 1,131 candidates received an admission offer (acceptance rate — 79.1%), and 202 students began their studies. For master's programs, 405 applications were received, 336 candidates were admitted, and 153 students began their studies.

Students begin their careers in fashion industry companies, retail chains, marketing agencies and media companies: among the college's partners — Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Christian Louboutin, Amazon, Nike and Valentino.

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• The writing
• Online application with non-refundable fee - $ 40
• Undergraduate program applicants: one letter of recommendation from academic or work-related links
• Master's program applicants: two letters of recommendation from academic or work-related links
• Official transcripts from all schools you have attended or are currently attending (high school, college, or universities) with graduation or GED certification, whether you are expecting or looking to get a loan for a previous job.

Freshmen:

• Official SAT or ACT score report (optional)
• Activity sheet showcasing work, volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, awards, achievements
• On-campus interview (optional).

Admission Session: During the information interview, students and their families will meet privately with an Admissions Counselor to discuss the benefits of a LIM college education, internship opportunities if LIM is best suited for the student.

• High school students who have submitted their academic achievements can count on scholarships - awards ranging from $ 1,500 to $ 10,000. Scholarships will renew when they achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Adrian J. Marcuse Presidential Scholarship - A first-year college student is applying for the scholarship on the basis of merit or exceptional academic credentials (GPA 3.5 or higher).
• The Alan Feigenbaum Scholarship is for LIM College students entering 3rd year with a cumulative score of 3.0 or higher. Applicants must complete their first two years of LIM College, including Introduction to Statistics, Applied Data Analysis, with a B grade or higher. The financial need is optional. Established in honor of the late professor of mathematics at LIM College Alan Feigenbaum.
• The $ 2,500 / yr prize is awarded for a 500 word essay on "Creative Applications of Mathematics" in management, marketing, merchandising, or visual research along with your scholarship application.
• The Leah Ryan Scholarship for LIM College Students with a Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above in Fundamentals of Essay (ENGL 0795). Must get a B or higher in English Basic Composition (ENGL 1095). Built to honor the late Professor Ryan for her dedication to teaching LIM College students.
• Two $ 1,500 awards - for a stand-alone, 500-word creative essay that discusses the physical work, art, or hobby you're working on.
• LIM College Academic Scholarship for students who achieve 30 credits and have a 3.8 GPA or higher.
• Limited amount of awards $ 1,500.
• LIM Business Leadership Scholarship for students in leadership positions in college clubs or organizations. Limited number of rewards at $ 3,000 / year. Leadership required, club involvement, 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA for renewal, letter of recommendation from relevant club advisor.
• The BOCES Scholarship is a limited number of awards of $ 3,000 per year.
• Awarded 25% LIM College Tuition Fee for siblings who are simultaneously enrolled in LIM College or have previously attended and graduated from LIM College. This award is only available to senior students who are enrolled full-time or part-time with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a good academic background.
• Academic Scholarship Transfer - For students with at least 15 approved credits and a cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher. Scholarships range from $ 1,000 to $ 6,000, based on college GPA. Renewed based on maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision