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| Motto | The Business of Fashion & Lifestyle |
|---|---|
| Type | Privatefor-profit college |
| Established | 1939 |
| President | Ron Marshall |
Academic staff | 14 FT/ 153 PT (2023) |
| Students | 1,371 (2023) |
| Undergraduates | 1,142 (2023) |
| Postgraduates | 229 (2023) |
| Location | ,, United States |
| Campus | Urban |
LIM College is aprivatefor-profit college inMidtown Manhattan focused on the business offashion and lifestyle. LIM College offers master's, bachelor's, and associate degree programs in fashion-focused majors with an emphasis on the connection between real-world experience and academic study.
LIM College was founded in 1939 by retail and education expert Maxwell F. Marcuse as theLaboratory Institute of Merchandising, at the request of retailers who wanted a school that would teach women about the fashion business and merchandising. LIM became co-ed in 1971 and Maxwell's son, Adrian G. Marcuse, became president in 1972. During his tenure, LIM College became accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and earned authority from New York State to grant bachelor's degrees. Former fashion executive Elizabeth S. Marcuse assumed the presidency in 2002. In 2009, the school changed its name to LIM College.[1] President Elizabeth S. Marcuse stepped down from her role on Dec. 31, 2023. The role of president at LIM College has been assumed by Ron Marshall.[2] Most recently, President Ron Marshall assumed leadership of LIM College in January 2024, following his tenure on the Board of Directors and as a strategic consultant since 2019. With extensive experience in retail, Marshall previously held executive roles at Nash-Finch Company, Borders Group, Inc., Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, and Claire’s Stores Inc.[3]
LIM College offers undergraduate majors leading to abachelor's degree inFashion Media, Fashion Management & Leadership,Fashion Merchandising,Visual Studies,Marketing and The Business of Cannabis. Minors are available in several fields, including, but not limited to,Sustainability,English, Fashion Design for Business, Digital Design and Photography, Entrepreneurship, and Interior and Residential Concepts. Associate degree programs are also offered.
At the graduate level, LIM offersMaster of Professional Studies (MPS) degree programs in Fashion Merchandising & Retail Management, Fashion Marketing, the Business of Fashion, and the Business of Cannabis. As well as Master of Science (MS) degree programs in Consumer Analytics and Global Fashion Supply Chain Management. Many of LIM College's degree programs are also offered in a fully online format. Summer programs for high school students and a summer immersion program for international students are available as well.
Experiential education, or "learn by doing", is the foundation of LIM's educational approach. Undergraduate students must complete threeinternships, including one in a retail environment, one at the retail managerial level or in a corporate setting, and during senior year, students must complete a nearly full-time internship related to their specific career goals. Many students volunteer at events such asNew York Fashion Week, and participate in industry-sponsored competitions,[4] and fashion professionals regularly visit campus to share their insights with students.[5] There are many clubs that students may join that provide experience to students[6] such as Fashion Production club, styling club and theschool magazine The Lexington Line.[7]
LIM College is accredited by theMiddle States Commission on Higher Education and its BBA, BPS, and associate degree programs are accredited by theAccreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.[8][9] Also, LIM College is cited as one ofThe Best Fashion Schools in the World 2019 in the BoF's (The Business of Fashion) global assessment of fashion education. BoF is a leading digital authority on the global fashion industry.[10][11]
In 2020, LIM College had a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,503, with a gender distribution of 11 percent male students and 89 percent female students. Approximately one quarter of the students live in college-owned, -operated or -affiliated housing.[12] The on-campus undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio was 9 to 1 and the average undergraduate class size was 17. There were also 278 students enrolled in the LIM College's graduate programs (170 on-campus/108 online).[13]
The campus consists of two buildings inMidtown Manhattan, located in walking distance of each other. Student housing is offered at FOUND Study'sMidtown East location on Lexington Avenue.
Until 2024, LIM also had a building at12 East 53rd Street.[14]
In 2019,The Business of Fashion named LIM College as one of "The Best Fashion Schools in the World".[15] LIM was named toPhi Theta Kappa's Transfer Honor Roll every year since 2016.[16]The Princeton Review included LIM College on its list of "Best Northeastern Colleges" for 2024.[17]
Notable LIM College alumni include:
