The Art Institute of Dallas was established in 1964 as the Dallas Fashion Merchandising College. It was later renamed in 1978 to the Fashion and Art Institute of Dallas. A year later, the Institute was approved to grant an Associate of Applied Arts Degree.
The Art Institute of Dallas's history includes its initial establishment as the Dallas Fashion Merchandising College, followed by a rebranding to the Fashion and Art Institute of Dallas and the subsequent approval to offer an Associate of Applied Arts degree.