LIM College

LIM College was founded in 1939 by retail and education expert Maxwell F. Marcuse as the Laboratory 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.[3]

LIM College offers undergraduate majors leading to a bachelor's degree in International Business, Fashion Media, Fashion Merchandising, Visual Studies, Marketing and Management. Minors are available in several fields, including, but not limited to, Sustainability, Art History, Global Studies, Digital Design and Photography, and Interior and Residential Concepts. Associate degree programs are also offered.

At the graduate level, LIM offers Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree programs in Fashion Merchandising & Retail Management, Fashion Marketing, the Business of Fashion, and Global Fashion Supply Chain Management. Several of LIM College's degree programs are also offered in a fully online format. Saturday and 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 three internships, 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 as New York Fashion Week, and participate in industry-sponsored competitions,[4] and fashion professionals regularly visit campus to share their insights with students.[5]

LIM College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and its BBA, BPS, and associate degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.[6][7] Also, LIM College is cited as one of The 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. [8][9]

As of Fall 2018, LIM College's undergraduate enrollment was 1,781 (1,438 on-campus/65 online). 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).[10]

The campus consists of three locations in Midtown Manhattan, located in walking distance of each other, and a residence hall located in Midtown West Manhattan, 5 minutes walk from Penn Station.

• The Townhouse, at 12 East 53rd Street – 40.759823°N 73.975057°W / 40.759823; -73.975057
• Fifth Avenue building, at 545 Fifth Avenue – 40.755305°N 73.979365°W / 40.755305; -73.979365
• Maxwell Hall, at 216 East 45th Street – 40.752185°N 73.97214°W / 40.752185; -73.97214
• The New Yorker, at 481 8th Avenue

In 2019, The Business of Fashion named LIM College as one of The Best Fashion Schools in the World.[11] LIM was named to Phi Theta Kappa's Transfer Honor Roll in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.[12] The Princeton Review included LIM College on its list of "Best Northeastern Colleges" for 2020.[13]

Notable LIM College alumni include:

• Daniella Vitale, CEO, Barney's New York.[14]
• Lauren Alexis Fisher, Market Editor, Harper’s Bazaar[15]
• Zerina Akers, Celebrity Stylist for Beyonce[16]
• Luisa Herrera-Garcia, Senior Vice President, John Varvatos[17]
• Kristi Sloe, Vice President of Product Development, Laura Mercier

• Official website