Get Your Degree!

Get information on programs from our featured schools.

What is Interior Design?

Interior design is an area of study that constructs aesthetically pleasing environments using material, color, fabric, spacing, shelving and lighting in order to meet the needs of clients. Designers must be knowledgeable in multiple fields, including architecture, design, safety regulation, and art and must be able to keep pace with trends while remaining creative and distinct. Designers will collaborate with architects, electricians, contractors and landscapers in order to complete the designs to spec. Designers must also be able to read blueprints, know fire codes and regulations, and be knowledgeable of software relating to design.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$56,220

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

34.07%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

53,160

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Interior Design Schools

mong the universities in Texas, The University of Texas at Austin stands out as a nationally recognized institution and a top-ranked school across the world. The University is a location of diverse, highly qualified students, faculty, and staff that seeks to impact the nation and the world. 

The interior design program at UTA espouses the mission to foster the importance of design and further advance its national and international influence for academic quality and innovation in the field.  The top ranked Interior Design degree reflects the balance between theoretical and applied knowledge required for a practical engagement with the world through design. It offers studio courses and projects and an ideal environment cultivating design innovation, creativity, professionalism, and individuality. The University provides three interior design degree programs, Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (BSID) First Professional, Master of Interior Design (MID I) First Professional, and Master of Interior Design (MID II) Post Professional. 

Acceptance Rate

31.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Consistently ranking among the nation's top universities, The University of Florida pursues the highest quality education at the best value. The result is a prestigious learning institution, ranking among the best public universities in 2021, and home to award-winning faculty members. 

UF's degree in Interior Design is a leading, nationally recognized, and CIDA-accredited program for creative, analytical, and self-motivated students. Trips are organized to give students first-hand design experience that allows them to work with designers in firms, installations, notable buildings, and exhibitions in cities like Atlanta and Chicago. Upper-level students can enroll in international programs, like the Detmold School for Architecture. Students are encouraged to prepare funds for required and pre arranged trips to interior design, architecture, and art in urban settings during the junior and senior years.

Acceptance Rate

36.58

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Florida State University is the oldest and leading institution of higher education in Florida's State University System. The education that FSU offers is student-centered and embraces a philosophy firmly rooted in liberal arts.   FSU's Interior Architecture & Design is nationally-ranked with undergraduate and graduate programs recognized by Design Intelligence as the 6th most hired-from school in the United States. The undergraduate program is CIDA-accredited and consists of seventy-seven semester hours of coursework in interior design. Before graduation, graduating students are required to partake in an internship for three credit hours. 

Acceptance Rate

35.97

Student to Faculty Ratio

21:1

Initiated in 1916, the New York School of Interior Design is a private, non-profit college dedicated to providing first-class transformative, innovative, and immersive interior design education in the world. It has an enrollment of 538 undergraduate and graduate students and 117 faculty members, creating a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. 

NYSID offers a wide array of Interior Design undergraduate, graduate, study abroad, and joint programs designed to cater to each individual's learning objectives.  These include a one-year Basic Interior Design certificate program, two-year Associate in Applied Science in Interior Design (AAS) degree program, CIDA-accredited Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design (BFA) program, three-year Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design program, two-year Post-professional Master of Fine Arts program, Master of Professional Studies in Healthcare Interior Design, one-year Master of Professional Studies in Lighting Design program, and Master of Professional Studies in Sustainable Interior Environments program.

Acceptance Rate

24.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

World-class faculty, high-quality undergraduate education, distinguished and distinctive graduate education, and high-impact research are the four pillars that drive George Washington University in a path of outstanding higher education. GW is the largest tertiary educational institution in D.C., with three campuses and over ten schools and colleges. 

George Washington University is a leading institution producing countless competent individuals with world-class partnerships and award-winning faculty members. The Interior Architecture (IA) program is the only CIDA-accredited program in D.C. It is a studio-based curriculum where students can work on various projects with different GW departments to develop their theoretical and technical knowledge in design. This IA program is also a terminal degree, equivalent to a Ph.D. in another field. 

Acceptance Rate

40.84

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Marist College is a private, comprehensive, and historically-rich establishment grounded in the liberal arts.  Education without boundaries – Students at Marist can study opportunities at the main campus in New York, Florence, and in the comforts of their home with their online courses and programs. 

Marist offers a four-year study abroad degree program with an innovative foundation in classic interior design and architectural rendering. The bachelor's degree in Interior Design curriculum emphasizes developing each design student's creativity with the combination of visual, technical, and architectural design principles. Marist facilities are furnished with state-of-the-art equipment, studio-format classrooms, and faculty members composed of the finest professionals, architects, and designers. The program is the only four-year U.S. bachelor's degree program in Florence, Italy, with courses taught in English by an international faculty.

Acceptance Rate

49.23

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Ohio State University is a top-ranked public institution that carries the first place among public universities in the state and seventieth in the U.S., earning its spot on "America's Best College" by U.S. News & World Report this year.   The Interior Design major at OSU is a four-year program with accreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Interior design students are subjected to various design courses that apply sophisticated design thinking and research technique. Students are required to have their laptop computers after being admitted into one of their major programs. Graduating students are tested with a final project at the end of the program, demonstrating their comprehensive design knowledge and ability, ensuring quality graduates that take positions with great design consulting offices, and many more. 

Acceptance Rate

53.74

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

As its name suggests, Texas Christian University is a private institution educating individuals to act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens with Christian-centered values. True to its vision, TCU has continued to provide first-rate higher education for almost a hundred and fifty years since its founding. 

Transforming dreams into reality and passion to practice, TCU design programs are rigorous, competitive, and intensely creative, pushing individuals beyond their comfort zone to learn, grow, and improve. What sets the Interior Design program apart is TCU's Center for Lighting Education, where students are allowed to mockup design vignettes to assess the influence of lighting. According to Princeton Review, internships in the program are one of the best, with a selection from several notable companies. 

Acceptance Rate

47.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

The University of Washington is a public university with a reputation for global academic excellence. It has campuses in Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell and educates more than 54,000 students annually.

Inspired with the mission is to progress the field of design through education, research, and practice, UW's School of Art, Art History, and Design offer several Bachelor of Design degrees (Industrial Design, Interaction Design, and Visual Communication Design) as well as a Masters of Design degree programs. The two-year Master of Design degree program was created for professionals that desire to expand their profession by engaging in advanced research and scholarship and or individuals interested in pursuing careers in the academe. The core curriculum includes seminars, studios, and independent study. Additionally, students work directly with faculty to identify other classes that match their learning interests and objectives.

Acceptance Rate

51.76

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Baylor University is a prestigious national-ranked Christian university and is the oldest perpetually operating University in Texas. Baylor's reputation for offering excellent and affordable academic experience sprung from the 175 years of commitment to its mission. 

The award-winning University offers a full range of undergraduate majors, master's, and doctoral degrees. The Interior Design program delivers excellent undergraduate design education with a partnership with various design communities to give students a hands-on experience where they can apply their knowledge and skills to create an environment that improves their health and well-being. 

Acceptance Rate

45.33

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

California State University is a top-ranked public university in Long Beach, California. It ranked in the Top 1% of all public universities, the ninth most-applied-to university in the nation and is one of the best-valued schools in America— low tuition fees, high social mobility rate, and earning potential after graduation.

Comprising of 132-semester units, CSULB's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design program is a diverse curriculum of lecture and studio courses that develops students' cognitive ability to analyze design challenges of a complex nature. The program is National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accredited and fulfills the NCIDQ exam eligibility requirements. Before admission, students are required to complete a competitive portfolio review. After gaining two years of work experience, graduates are qualified to take the examination to become a Certified Interior Designer. 

Acceptance Rate

39.27

Student to Faculty Ratio

23:1

The University of Minnesota is a top-performing national institution that offers affordable quality education. It is ranked as a "Best Value" University by USA Today, the Princeton Review, and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. 

The University of Minnesota's College of Interior Design offers an Interior Design degree that focuses on improving human life quality, health, and safety through interior design environments. The program provides an undergraduate degree in Interior Design, a graduate degree in Interior Design Track (MA, MS, Ph.D.), and a minor in Interior Environments. The design program is CICA-accredited—graduates may apply for entry-level interior design practice, advance study, and join professional interior design organizations. 

Acceptance Rate

56.74

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

As its name implies, the Fashion Institute of Technology is an internationally recognized public college that offers specific fashion-industry-related academic programs and advanced degrees such as design, fashion, art, communications, and business. 

For more than half a century, FIT's Interior Design Program has been tailoring students for success in the design industry. Students are encouraged not just to develop their vision and hone their creativity but are taught the practical skill and the knowledge to create environments that enhance the user's lifestyle. FIT offers top-notch facilities, including a lighting laboratory, design graphics reproduction center, and model-making shop. Students develop their skills from working with professionals from premier firms like Gensler, Interior Architects, and the Rockwell Group.

Acceptance Rate

53.89

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising started from a college with two Downtown L.A. classrooms. Today, it is a renowned private college that offers transformative educational experience with its outstanding faculty, world-class facilities, and rigorous study programs that develop graduates who become leaders in global design and business industries.

As a top Design school in California, FIDM offers only the best programs in design. Its Interior Design Program graduates are qualified for professional membership in ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and IIDA (International Interior Design Association). They are fit for taking the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) examination. They have been featured in various television shows like Top Design and HGTV's Design Star, and many either work in big industries and international firms or own successful design firms. 

Acceptance Rate

36.24

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

In 1848 a woman named Sarah Worthington established a private visual arts college for women that will enable them to achieve financial freedom through high-quality, career-focused education. Moore College of Art & Design became the first and only visual arts college for women in America that offers prestigious bachelor and graduate programs in art and design. 

Moore undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts students begin their study with Foundation Year classes and then select nine exciting majors and 11 minors, depending on their learning goals. The university also offers International and Mobility program opportunities. Additionally, BFA graduates can acquire a master's degree by applying for Moore's unique 4+1 BFA + MA programs; each will receive a $10,000 graduate fellowship upon admission. Moore's also offers coeducational Graduate Studies, Adult Continuing Education, and Youth Education programs. 

Acceptance Rate

46.99

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Placed as the 5th Most Innovative University in America by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue University indeed lives up to its expectations. This world-renowned public university has been serving world-class inventions, innovations, and leadership since 1869. 

Purdue University offers a comprehensive, problem-based learning Interior Design major that highlights the design of code-compliant, accessible, and inclusive interior environments that manage people's well-being while considering their complex physical, mental, and emotional needs. The program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts or BFA is CIDA-accredited and is qualified to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Examination. The program graduates have vast career opportunities to work in commercial, retail, healthcare, institutional, and residential market areas. 

Acceptance Rate

59.83

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

One of the top arts and design colleges in the nation, the College for Creative Studies, has over 1,400 students and offers one of the best undergraduate, graduate, precollege, and continuing studies programs. 

More than its technical aspects, design significantly influences the health, education, productivity, and overall quality of life of people. CCS leans towards the holistic approach for its Interior Design program. Students acquire practical experience through sponsored projects and benefit from working with industry-standard resources, including a large-format presentation plotter, 3D printer, materials library, and Revit architectural software — mirror an operating design studio. CCS's Interior Design program also boasts 100% post-graduate employment. Additionally, it is accredited by the Council of Interior Design (CIDA), which gives its graduates the edge in the growing design industry. 

Acceptance Rate

43.78

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Located in the world's multicultural epicenters for arts, design, culture, and business, Pratt Institute imparts an exceptional learning environment that stretches beyond the Pratt campuses in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Pratt boasts programs that are consistently ranked among the best in the country with faculty and alumni of renowned designers, artists, and scholars in their fields.

Pratt’s Interior Design graduates are taught with an architecturally-oriented program that emphasizes spatial design— proportion, scale, configuration, and light sources, along with materials, textures, and colors—and surface articulation. The program is appropriate for students who desire to study interior design as an academic discourse and a professional endeavor. Program candidates with an undergraduate degree in interior design, architecture, or other closely related design fields are qualified to complete the MFA in two years, a total of 60 credits, and submit a portfolio along with relevant information and their specific interests.

Acceptance Rate

55.5

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Howard University is a federally chartered, private, and historically black university that celebrates diversity with a student body that embodies excellence in truth and service. It is a world-class institution that is a location for prestigious health, science, engineering, art, law, and education.

Recognized by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), Howard's Interior Design program trains students to create ideal environments by considering aesthetic, technical, social, and cultural aspects of the built environment. It is a program that abides in the university's core values, which are excellence, leadership, service, and truth. It develops the student's ability to handle design concepts, planning, and knowledge of materials, space analysis, furnishings, and construction to create interiors for residential, commercial, and particular uses.

Acceptance Rate

36.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Located in New York City, The New School was founded in 1919 as a private research university with colleges.  It includes the College of Performing Arts, Parsons School of Design, the Schools of Public Engagement, Parsons Paris, Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, and The New School for Social Research.

Parsons School of Design presents a BFA Architectural Design that incorporates fine arts theories and creativity with the materials of urban design and architecture disciplines. Students are trained to explore theoretical, environmental, and cultural interests using digital animation methods and full-scale construction. The BFA Architectural Design is a full-time and on-campus program that spans up to four years. Program graduates land careers in interior design, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental art, urban, exhibition, and further study for two additional years in Parsons' Master of Architecture.  

Acceptance Rate

57.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Maryland Institute College of Art is one of the earliest colleges established in the U.S. and holds the reputation of providing leading education in the field of art and design. For almost two centuries, MICA has been a top-producer of nationally and internationally applauded professional artists and designers.

Set under the College of Art and Design, MICA's Architectural Design Program is among the few in the nation. The AD program prepares students to enter a Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) first professional degree program, continue the graduate study, or directly enter a design career. AD Program students are taught by award-winning internationally acclaimed practitioners the knowledge and skills to develop innovative solutions for 21st-century problems. 

Acceptance Rate

63.89

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Ranked as one of the top research university’s in the nation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University have facilities throughout the state and around the globe, with its main campus located in Blacksburg, Virginia. VPI is comprised of nine colleges and graduate school that offers over 280 undergraduate and graduate programs. 

Virginia Tech's Interior Design program is equipped with a balanced curriculum that values the importance of history, building technology, ethics, innovation, creative skill, and business practice. The BS in Interior Design is a four-year design program with courses on Business Procedures, Building Systems, Lighting Design, Construction Documents, and Computer Applications. VPI also offers a Post-Professional Master of Science in Architecture for individuals who desire to advance their studies, concentration in Interior Design degree program held on campus for two years.  

Acceptance Rate

70.04

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Located in Laie, Hawaii, Brigham Young University is the Pacific's flagship international center of learning. It has an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students and a curriculum that integrates both spiritual and secular education.  The BYU major in Interior Design Art aims to develop students' proficiency in handcrafted visual art production, digital imaging, and computer software production techniques and establish critical thinking methods through compositional analysis, critique, and interpretation of the elements and principles of design. Students are able to participate in research and internship programs. Program graduates gain a deeper understanding and awareness of the history, theories, and the role of art in education through oral and written communication. 

Acceptance Rate

67.49

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Harding University was established in 1924 and is currently the largest private liberal arts university in the state of Arkansas. It is home to nearly 5,000 students and offers state-of-the-art local and international undergraduate, graduate, and pre-professional programs.

Students at Harding's Interior Architecture and Design program gain their learning insights and experience by participating in real-world projects. Students are trained to build their fundamental skills, gain comprehensive knowledge, and implement these acquired skills and knowledge through creative and relevant interior design project experiences. They are encouraged to participate in multiple design competitions as well as service and community projects. The program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and graduates meet the educational requirement to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Examination.

Acceptance Rate

61.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Wentworth Institute of Technology's 31-acre campus is accessible in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston. The private, technical design and engineering university offers innovative, part-time, and online undergraduate and graduate programs across its five schools. 

WIT offers a full-time Bachelor Science degree in Interior Design program under the School of Architecture & Design. Classes are taken on campus, and for four years, students are taught the essence of interior design—which plays a vital role in human activity, helping their ability to learn, work, play, worship, and heal. Students are to complete eight academic semesters plus two semesters of full-time cooperative work experience and are required to receive a final grade of C or higher to graduate. The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). After 3,520 hours of qualified professional work experience, graduates may be qualified to sit for one of the three sections of the NCIDQ examination sections for professional certification.

Acceptance Rate

68.55

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Educational Requirements for Interior Designers

A minimum of a bachelor's degree is required to begin apprenticing as an interior designer, though those with an associate's degree can work as assistants. Individuals will study a variety of topics during the four year that it typically takes to earn a bachelor's degree. Some individual's will also take on internship opportunities or seek employment during the course of their education in order to augment their studies with practical experience. Interior design requires an understanding of several different fields often reflected in a typical curriculum.

Interior design majors will have varied courses which may include:

What Do Interior Designers Study?

In addition to the classes listed, interior designers will study an array of subjects depending on the degree track and institutional requirements. For example, students enrolled in a bachelors degree program in interior design (either Bachelor of Science in Interior Design or Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design) can range from three to four years while an Associate Degree in Interior Design is typically a 2-year program.

Both programs provide the curricular design to provide students with integrative thinking skills coupled with requisite creative tools and analytic skills. General education courses for interior designers may include English composition, philosophy, math, and creative writing. Core courses will help students understand color, lighting, fabrics, architecture, landscaping, ergonomics, and spatial design.

Online Interior Design Degree Programs

For some students, earning an interior design degree online is an ideal solution. Online interior design programs may be a great fit with your schedule, life, goals, and independent learning style. By leveraging technology, students will have access to create aesthetically pleasing spaces that are safe, sustainable, and accessible to patrons with varying needs. These spaces will be back-tested to meet todays rigorous regulations and technical standards.

Online interior design degree programs include vital aspects of the trade such as color, proportion, lighting, rendering, perspective, and drafting. With these basics in place, students will move to furnishings and textiles through computer-aided design and human design. These skills coalesce to provide interior design students with a highly dynamic platform to successfully approach projects in residential design, office design, commercial design, and industrial design.

What Skills Can I Expect to Learn as an Interior Designer?

Outcomes for online interior design degree programs and on-site degree programs are tightly aligned.  In both cases, accredited colleges expect students to acquire a defined set of skills and knowledge to be work-ready.  A common set of skills will include:

Professionalism – Interior design graduates will be asked to deftly apply their knowledge and ply their trade in an ethical and consistent manner.  Regardless of the scope of the job or geographic location, interior designers are equipped to design spaces to meet customer needs and adhere to applicable rules and regulations.

Building Systems – Onsite and online interior design students will learn to utilize the right finish materials to meet and exceed customer expectations.  Factors involved in accomplishing this include aesthetics, budget, regulatory compliance, safety, maintenance, sustainability, and standards of use.

Problem Solving – Interior designers will learn problem solving skills leveraging the design process and knowledge of design theories and applications.  This deep analysis will help propel a project from concept into reality through collaboration and synthesizing customer information.

Communication – Successful graduates will effectively communication through oral, visual, and written methods to project stakeholders.  Using creative methods and real-world renderings, designers will help set expectations and ensure projects are carried out through completion.

Interior Design Solutions – Producing end-results that effectively integrate into a space is key.  Interior design graduates will take into account environmental and building systems by blending sustainability & maintenance in proper ratios to satisfy customer demands.

What is the Difference Between Interior Design and Interior Decorating?

While related, interior design and decorating are not the same job function.  An interior designer works with designers, architects, project managers, and developers to design and modify a defined office or residential space.  These spaces will adhere to all applicable regulations, codes, and aesthetic requirements of a municipality and county.  On the other hand, an interior decorator will apply finishes to a room that will include furnishings and color.

After graduating, designers will be able to pursue apprenticeships that may last between 1-3 years prior to a graduate practicing interior design. Most states require licensing and the exam is administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification, requiring 6 years of combined education and experience and at least 2 years of post secondary education. Accreditation bodies for programs include the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.

Information From Schools Requested By Other Students:

Employment Opportunities and Design Certifications

Interior designers will work with architects to assist in the designing or remodeling of a space. This will be done based on client's desires and realized through a process of sketching and modeling utilizing a variety of mediums. An understanding of costs and planning is necessary to determine the length of time and materials necessary to realize the client's visions. The use of computer aided design (CAD) software is commonplace among interior designers and proficiency in its use is a requirement for success.

Individuals may specialize in a particular type of architecture and design, utilizing motifs from a particular time period to establish a style or mood. Others may specialize in a particular type of building or buildings, such as offices, hospitals or hotels. The variety of specializations available to interior designers is many, and allows for flexibility. Some may choose to be sustainable designers, focusing on efficiency of resources to maintain more environmentally friendly spaces, or may focus entirely on lighting and how such fixtures may affect the atmosphere of a room. Often times, such interior designers will work with one another, each focusing on his or her specialty in order to produce a final design.

Interior designers may pursue certifications to expand their area of expertise. Such certifications are generally available through trade or professional associations and demonstrate proficiency in a particular area of design, such as kitchens closets. Interior designers with such certification may find themselves in higher demand due to their ability to focus on a larger area of design. By earning such certifications and renewing them as needed individuals will be able to build client confidence, with successful designs in those areas adding to one's portfolio and increasing a demand for their work.

Top States of Employment for Interior Designers

  1. California 7,390
  2. Texas 4,970
  3. Florida 4,730
  4. New York 2,970
  5. Illinois 2,400

Top Paying States for Interior Designers

  • District of Columbia $80,950
  • Rhode Island $72,130
  • New York $65,760
  • California $64,940
  • Massachusetts $62,780

Job Growth & Career Outlook for Interior Designers

Work opportunities are available for interior designers and the field is expected to expand in the coming years as demand increases. Work environments will widely vary as locations for jobs will change. The average salary of an interior designer is approximately $49,810 per year with entry level positions will starting around $28,000 based on national averages. Interior design is a competitive profession requiring determination, skill, innovation and experience to progress and succeed. If you are interested in interior design, you may also be interested inillustration,fashion and apparel design, and graphic design.

Featured Rankings

Find Your College Match

Sort By
PHP Code Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com