Parsons School of Design

Parsons Design School in New York is moderrately competitive for Indian students to get into. The institute's acceptance rate ranges between 52% and 63%, as per some unofficial sources.

For Indian students, the academic requirements are standard. But, the admission is highly dependent on the strength of a student's creative portfolio.

To know how you can boost your admission chances at Parsons, consult one of our <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/apply/top-consultants-in-noida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expert counsellors at Shiksha Study Abroad</a> for FREE mentorship.

Yes, Parsons Design School is one of the best arts schools in the US for Indian students. The reasons listed below make it a very ideal choice for Indian students planning to pursue arts or fashion studies from the US:

• Easy access to global internships and industry projects with brands like LVMH and Donna Karan
• World-class fabrication and tech labs (3D printing, CNC, laser cutting, and metalwork)
• Welcoming and diverse study environment (students from 115+ countries)
• High demand among designers and entrepreneurs in the Indian market
• Easy pathway to 12-month OPT

Parsons School of Design offers programs for international students on the undergraduate and graduate level as well as associate’s degrees for professionals. Listed below are the best known Parsons School of Design programs for overseas applicants:

• Art & Design;
• Fashion & Technology;
• Urban Design;
• Fine Arts; and
• Management

Parsons School of Design alumni have excelled in various professions such as fashion, graphic designing, branding, product design, fine arts, interior design, UX/UI design, photography, architecture and many more. Some of the famous alumni are as follows:

• Rose Connor
• Duncan Tonatiuh Smith
• Kevin Kwan
• Richard Avedon
• David Carroll
• Zach Lieberman
• Jasper Johns
• Angelo Donghia
• Bob Williams
• Van Day Truex
• Chris Benz and many more.

<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/f1-visa-guide-applycontent51721" target="_blank" rel="noopener">F-1 visa students</a> can work 20 hours per week in the US during the academic session. The work hour limit is 40 hours per week in semester breaks.

Teaching Assistantships, Library Assistants, and Cafes are some popular part-time job options for Indian students in California.

Indian PG students need to meet the entry requirements listed below to get a seat into a PG program at Parsons Design School, NY:

• Academic transcripts
• Proof of English proficiency
• Resume or CV
• SOP
• LOR
• Portfolio and
• Interview (if required)

Parsons School accepts major English proficiency exam scores as a proof of proficiency in the language. Students can refer to the table below for minimum English proficiency requirements:

English Proficiency ExamMinimum Score Requirements<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/exams/ielts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IELTS</a>Overall score of 7.0 or higher<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/exams/toefl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TOEFL</a>Overall score of 92 or higher<a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/exams/pte" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PTE</a>Overall score of 63 or higher

There is no separate deadline for Indian students to apply for scholarships at the Parsons Design School. The institute does not require a separate scholarship application.

Indian students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships as per their admission application. 

Studying MFA at Parsons New York can be expensive. The total cost ranges between INR 62.9 Lakhs and INR 93.57 Lakhs which includes tuition fees, insurance etc. A detailed breakdown of cost of MFA is given in the table below.

Particulars

Cost

Tuition

INR 34.1 Lakhs to INR 64.66 Lakhs

Insurance

INR 4.2 Lakhs

Others

INR 1.12 Lakhs to INR 1.24 Lakhs

Total fee

INR 62.9 Lakhs to INR 93.57 Lakhs

Yes, MA from Parsons New York is generally considered expensive for an Indian student. The course can take 1 to 2 years to be completed. The detailed costs are given below:

Particulars

Cost

Tuition

INR 43.4 Lakhs and INR 71.85 Lakhs

Insurance

INR 4.17 Lakhs

Others

INR 1.25 Lakhs

Total fee

INR 72.33 Lakhs to INR 1.01 Cr

Yes, students can change their progran at the Parsons School of Design. This can be done by consulting the academic advisor at the institute. The advisor will guide students on the process and the eligibility criteria for the same.

Meeting the entry requirements of the new course is required. The change of program/major also depends on availability of seats.

To know more, check newschool.edu

Parsons Design School PG programs are available in several fields including Design, visualization, textile, leadership, architecure, and more. Here is the list of some of the top PG courses offered at the university:

• MArch Architecture
• MFA Architecture and Lighting Design
• MPS Communication Design
• MS Data Visualization
• MFA Design & Technology
• MS Design & Urban Ecologies
• MFA Fashion Design & Society
• MPS Fashion Management
• MA in Fashion Studies

Parsons School of Design is one of the best design schools in the US. It is ranked #213 in Best National Universities by the prestigious US News & World Report in the 2026 edition. Parsons has also been awarded the rank #189 in Best Value Schools, and #168 in Best Colleges for Veterans by the same ranking body. According to QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, Parsons School of Design is ranked at the spot #3.

Parsons School of Design ensures to take all the necessary steps to make the campus safe for Indian students. The university provides a campus safety app to provide access to safety resources to the students. Apart from this, they have an emergency management department who are specialised in handling different kinds of situations. All the students are given access to permanent identification card allowing them entry into the buildings.

Listed below are the advantage of living in New York as an Indian student:

• Global Business and Tech hub (top MNCs such as Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Deloitte, and Google all based here)
• 24x7 public transport facilities
• World class restaurants
• Great international connectivity (3 international airports)
• Home to world class universities