An education in interior design is getting more and more important for aspiring professionals in the field. In many states, you can't call yourself an interior designer unless you have a license or a certain level of education. If you're thinking about becoming an interior designer, you'll want to know about the best interior design schools you can attend in the US. Whether you want to work on residential or commercial design, the following programs will prepare you well for your future career as an interior designer. But before we get to the rankings list, let's briefly go over what makes interior design programs unique. Interior design schools teach a unique set of skills. These programs focus on the creative aspects of design, of course, but a good program also instills strong technical, business, and management skills in its students. If you attend a top interior design school, you'll learn the following: Some of these programs offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA), while others offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or even a Bachelor of Science (BS). For graduate programs, they can offer a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Science (MS), or Master of Professional Studies (MPS). I'll talk more about the difference between these degrees at the end of this article. To come up with a reliable list of the top 10 interior design schools, I aggregated common ranking lists from interior design industry experts (including Architectural Digest, and Design Intelligence). These lists compiled the rankings by surveying design professionals and asking which schools best prepare students' for a career in interior design. Note that the following programs aren't listed in any particular order. If a school is on this list, it'll give you a top-notch interior design education, regardless of the order it appears in. That said, I did separate the schools into two tiers based on their aggregate rankings. Keep in mind, though, that the most important consideration in choosing one of these schools is finding the one that best fits your own preferences and interests. Now then, let's get to our rankings of the best colleges for interior design! These are the top-rated interior design schools, the cream of the crop. They're likely to be the most competitive of all interior design programs, so be cautious when putting together your applications—you don't only want to apply to schools with very low admissions rates! If you want more information about admissions statistics and requirements for any of these schools, just click their names. The New York School of Interior Design is the only school on this list that specializes solely in interior design education. It's also a top-ranked grad school for interior design, which indicates strong faculty, networking, and post-grad opportunities. Graduates of this institution have pretty great career prospects: 98% of students find jobs within six months of getting their degrees. If you aren't sure whether you want to commit to a full degree program, or if you don't yet feel prepared to apply to an interior design program, you can also enroll in one of the school's non-degree certificate programs to work on building up your portfolio. One of the best cities to be for any type of arts program. The Parsons School of Design (one of five colleges at The New School) boasts some well-developed networks in commerce and industry, so this school might be a particularly good option for those who wish to pursue commercial design. If you're not sure what you want to focus on, however, you can still find your niche here: Parsons offers more than 35 undergraduate and graduate programs (their grad programs are top-ranked as well). This institution states that they put a special focus on collaborative work, meaning you'd have the opportunity to complete group projects, perhaps even with students who belong to different degree programs. As interior designers have to work with many types of professionals to finish a job, this type of collaboration will be vital in helping prepare you for a career in design.
What's so Special About an Interior Design Program?
How Are These Interior Design Schools Ranked?
Best Interior Design Schools: Tier 1
New York School of Interior Design — New York, NY
Parsons School of Design (The New School) — New York, NY
Pratt Institute — New York, NY
- Undergraduate Degrees Offered: BFA
- Graduate Degrees Offered: MFA
- Online Degree Program: No
- Tuition: $55,575 per year for full-time students
If you're hoping to get a job directly after graduation, then you'll definitely want to check out the Pratt Institute. In 2019, 94% of graduates (who responded to the survey) found jobs within a year of graduation.
Like other schools on this list, the Pratt Institute boasts a top-rated graduate program for interior design. In this MFA program, you'll learn about topics such as sustainable practice, environmental quality, aesthetics, and changing technologies.
Rhode Island School of Design — Providence, RI
- Undergraduate Degrees Offered: BFA
- Graduate Degrees Offered: MA
- Online Degree Program: No
- Tuition: $56,435 per year for full-time students (both undergrad and graduate)
One of the most famous and well-ranked arts and design schools in the US, RISD is located in the city of Providence, which has one of the highest concentrations of artists in the country. The interior design major is known as "interior studies" or "interior architecture" at RISD.
RISD is particularly well-known for teaching students with practical instruction and coursework. If you're interested in eventually going to grad school, you should know that RISD also has a highly ranked grad program for interior design, through which you can earn an MA degree.
Savannah College of Art and Design — Savannah, GA
- Undergraduate Degrees Offered: BFA
- Graduate Degrees Offered: MA, MFA
- Online Degree Program: Yes, BFA, MA, and MFA
- Tuition: $38,340 per year
SCAD is ranked highly across the board for all its art and design programs (not just interior design), ensuring you'll have access to other artistic and creative resources on campus.
While the main campus is located in Savannah, SCAD also has interior design programs in Atlanta and Hong Kong, as well as online. This array of program locations means that you will have more opportunities to land internships in metropolitan areas and even study abroad.
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Architecture's not bad for a design school, right?
Best Interior Design Schools: Tier 2
These schools are generally lower-ranked than Tier 1 schools, but they still offer pretty strong interior design programs and tend to show up toward the top of many ranking lists.
Like with the Tier 1 schools, just click any school name to get more information about admissions statistics and requirements.
Cornell University — Ithaca, NY
- Undergraduate Degrees Offered: BS
- Graduate Degrees Offered: MA, MS
- Online Degree Program: No
- Tuition: $62,546 per year
Cornell is the only Ivy League school that offers an interior design program. This program has a special focus on the impact of design decisions on the environment.
Drexel University — Philadelphia, PA
- Undergraduate Degrees Offered: BS
- Graduate Degrees Offered: MS
- Online Degree Program: No
- Tuition: $54,766 per year
Drexel's program in interior design combines the study of interior design with the study of art and art history. Students explore the behavioral aspects of interior design in addition to aesthetic aspects.
Fashion Institute of Technology — New York, NY
- Undergraduate Degrees Offered: BFA
- Graduate Degrees Offered: None
- Online Degree Program: No
- Tuition: $3,585 per semester for in-state students; $10,846 for out-of-state students
Although FIT is well known for its fashion design programs, it also boasts a strong interior design program. It's the largest program of its kind in NYC, with around 400 students. If you attend FIT, you'll have the opportunity to work with top professionals in the area, such as architects and interior/lighting/graphic designers.
Syracuse University — Syracuse, NY
- Undergraduate Degrees Offered: BFA, BID (Bachelor of Industrial Design)
- Graduate Degrees Offered: MFA
- Online Degree Program: No
- Tuition: $58,440 per year
Syracuse offers a program called Environmental and Interior Design, which is a bit broader than most other programs on this list.
At Syracuse, interior design students take studio courses in fine arts and crafts to supplement their main course of study. This program might be a good option for students who want to focus on design but also want parts of a more standard liberal arts experience.
University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati, OH
- Undergraduate Degrees Offered: BS
- Graduate Degrees Offered: None
- Online Degree Program: No
- Tuition: $6,588 per semester for Ohio residents, $14,255 per semester for non-residents
The interior design program at UC's School of Architecture and Interior Design emphasizes the physical, psychological, and social needs of people at work and at leisure.
The program is five years long—slightly longer than the standard four-year bachelor's degree program—and requires one and a half years of cooperative education experience. Furthermore, about 70% of graduates get jobs within three months of graduating.
Let's talk about how to choose the interior design program that's best for you.
Bonus: Best Online Interior Design Bachelor Program
Online programs are increasing across the board, and interior design is no exception. However, your options for getting a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design in a fully online program are still fairly limited. From our list above, SCAD is the only school who offers it. Online master's in interior design are much more common. Fortunately, we've found another high-quality school to add to our list if you're interested in getting an online Bachelor's in Interior Design.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design— Denver, CO
- Undergraduate Degrees Offered: BFA
- Graduate Degrees Offered: None
- Online Degree Program: BFA
- Tuition: $602 per credit hour for online classes, $693 per credit hour for in-person classes
RMCAD's interior design BFA program can be done fully online, but it'll still set you up for success as an interior designer. Your teachers will all be practicing interior designers, able to share their real world experience. As part of your classes, you'll learn how to use tools such as CAD, hand drafting, and material sourcing.
Picking the Right Interior Design Program for You: 5 Factors
Although there isn't a gigantic variety of interior design program choices out there, you still have to sift through a lot of information to pick a school that's right for you. Hopefully, this last has got you started on the right track.
That said, there are other things to keep in mind before committing to a particular interior design school. Here are five key factors to consider.
#1: Make Sure the School Is Accredited by the CIDA
First, you'll want to check that the interior design school you're interested in is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Any program that claims to prepare you for a career in interior design should be approved by this organization.
All the schools on our list above are accredited by CIDA and state this fact very clearly on their websites. If you're not sure whether a particular school is accredited, contact its admissions office and ask.
#2: Choose a School That Offers the Degree You Want
Most interior design programs offer a BA or BFA, with some offering a BS.
If you attend a BA program, you'll likely get more of a traditional liberal arts degree, meaning that the program strives to educate well-rounded artists and scholars.
BS degrees, by contrast, are more strictly focused on their subject matter than BAs, so you'll take fewer general education courses.
Finally, BFAs are professional degrees; you'll take some general education courses, but the main focus of the program will be helping you hone and focus your artistic talent and voice.
#3: Decide Whether You Prefer a Flexible or Focused Program
Some of the programs above offer plenty of room for students to explore their artistic and design interests, and boast dozens of degree options and specializations, whereas others are more focused and therefore might be better fits for students who already know what interests they want to pursue.
Spend some time exploring the programs' websites to get a better feel for whether they're good fits for you.
#4: Look for Portfolio Requirements You Can Meet
As with any design or arts program, you'll have to submit a portfolio as part of the application process for any of the schools listed above. Some of these portfolio requirements might seem reasonable, while others might be tough to meet. Explore each program's portfolio requirements well ahead of any application deadlines.
#5: Take Location Into Account
Are there particular fields or specialties where you might have an advantage if you're living in a certain area? Also, think twice before applying to a school in an area you absolutely hate or are really unsure about.
Once you consider these five factors, you'll be better able to choose an interior design program that's right for you. The better the fit, the more successful you're likely to be in school and your career!
What's Next?
Interested in design but don't know much about it? Start with our guide to the 7 principles of design.
If you're planning on going to an interior design school, you'll likely need to create a portfolio of your best work. Learn more about how to make a great portfolio that will definitely impress your dream school.
Once you're done putting together a list of schools to apply to, the next step should be figuring out how to pay for your education. Learn more about how to apply for financial aid, how to pay for school without loans, and how to get some of the top scholarships in the country.
Thinking about going to an art school instead? Check out our guide to the best art schools in the US! Or, whet your appetite for art school with our short guide to contour line art.
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FAQs
10 Best Interior Design Schools in the US? ›
A Bachelor of Arts in interior design or Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design degree program typically provides training in the principles of design, computer applications, space planning and problem solving. These programs should be accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
Which place is best for studying interior design? ›- Interior Designers Institute, California.
- Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London.
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
- Académie Grandes Terres, Paris.
- Crèapole Ecole de Creation Management, France.
- Parsons School for Design, USA.
A Bachelor of Arts in interior design or Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design degree program typically provides training in the principles of design, computer applications, space planning and problem solving. These programs should be accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
What do the top 10 percent of interior designers make? ›The most updated information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that interior designers across the United States receive a median pay of $57,060 per year, or $27.43 per hour. The lowest 10 percent earn less than $33,020, and the highest 10 percent earn more than $97,920.
What states are best for interior designers? ›- Rogers, Arkansas. Average salary: $64,922 per year. ...
- Portland, Oregon. Average salary: $66,235 per year. ...
- San Diego, California. Average salary: $68,951 per year. ...
- Los Angeles, California. ...
- Seattle, Washington. ...
- Washington, D.C. ...
- Roswell, Georgia. ...
- New York, New York.
Doctorate Degree in Interior Design
Doctoral programs in interior design provide the highest form of education available. Individuals who pursue these programs typically want to work in research, postsecondary teaching, or advanced business roles.
Job Outlook
Employment of interior designers is projected to show little or no change from 2021 to 2031. Despite limited employment growth, about 8,200 openings for interior designers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
If you want a career in the arts and design industry, being an interior designer is definitely a great choice. However, although it can be very fulfilling and rewarding, interior designing can be challenging and stressful, too.
Which country has high demand for interior design? ›Some of the most promising countries that pay well for interior design careers are: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, China, and Japan.
How do you become a No 1 interior designer? ›- Interior Designer and Interior Decorator are the Same Thing, Right?
- Go To School and Earn an Associate or Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design.
- Upon Graduation, Pass the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Exam and Get an Interior Design License (If Necessary)
- Build a Strong Portfolio.
- Take Pro Bono Work.
How do I choose an interior design program? ›
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) suggests considering length of program, size of university, location, format of program (in person or online), program rankings, program flexibility, admission rate, tuition/expenses, alumni network, and accreditation.
Does GPA matter in interior design? ›Most of the best colleges for interior design require: at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. a handful of prerequisite courses. recommendation letters.
Can I be a millionaire as an interior designer? ›Yes, interior designers can be rich.
While the median annual salary is $55,000, many interior designers earn salaries in the six-figure range. An interior designer helps plan and decorate living and working spaces for clients.
- DigiDir. 4.8 ₹1,42,199per month. 13 reviews16 salaries reported.
- UrbanClap. 3.8 ₹1,02,870per month. 76 reviews21 salaries reported.
- HomeLane. 3.5 ₹99,721per month. ...
- Morpheus Human Consulting. 4.7 ₹78,139per month. ...
- DESIGN CAFE. 3.9 ₹37,550per month. ...
- Show more companies.
How much does a Interior Designer make? The national average salary for a Interior Designer is $57,744 in United States. Filter by location to see Interior Designer salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 7,929 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Interior Designer employees.
What is the maximum salary for interior designer in USA? ›The average interior designer salary in the USA is $68,716 per year or $33.04 per hour. Entry level positions start at $52,500 per year while most experienced workers make up to $95,000 per year.
Do you need a license to be an interior designer in USA? ›Interior Design License—or Not? As a general guideline, no U.S. state requires a license to work in interior design, though there's an exception to this rule. In Louisiana, Florida, Nevada, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, you must be registered if you wish to work unsupervised in any commercial space.
Is interior design a good career in USA? ›According to Indeed Salaries, interior designers can expect to make an average annual salary of $57,747 per year in the United States.
Is it hard to succeed in interior design? ›The route to becoming a successful interior designer is full of challenges. It requires a rare level of passion for what you do, as well as resolve to get to a stage where your designs are so highly regarded you can earn money from them.
Is interior design a hard major? ›The hardest part of earning a degree in interior design is passing your collegiate level interior design classes. While many of the classes will be challenging, you will be able to pass them if you use all of the resources at your disposal.
Can interior designers make six figures? ›
If you love working with people and enjoy the world of design and decorating, you might be thinking about becoming an interior designer. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual salary is $48,400, but many interior designers earn in the six-figure range.
Is it worth getting into interior design career? ›Conclusion. Working as an interior designer, you can be highly successful if you are willing to work your way up and keep working hard throughout your career. It's a profession that demands personal ingenuity, which is not simple to come by, but it is well worth the effort.
What percentage of people hire interior designers? ›The fourth annual Houzz & Home survey on remodeling plans, budgets and priorities encompasses more than 170,000 respondents in the U.S. and more than 260,000 throughout the world.
Does interior design have a future? ›Job Outlook
Despitelimitedemployment growth, about 8,200 openings for interior designers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Con: Clients can be demanding and stressful
Interior designers have to work hard to communicate their ideas and manage clients' expectations. You have to deal with tight budgets, last-minute decision changes, clients who don't like your ideas, and projects that don't go as planned. Interior design can be stressful.
Interior designers are frequently required to be mathematically proficient. They must understand basic geometry and how to calculate measurements in order to create accurate floor plans.
How stressful is interior design? ›As an interior designer, you may occasionally feel under pressure to push the boundaries of your imagination and design. Regarding significant projects and the strain to provide new, high-caliber ideas, a successful architect and interior designer, the stress is constantly on.
Is interior design growing or declining? ›Interior Design Career Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2022 Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment for interior designers will grow about 0.9% through 2031, which is slower than the average job growth of 5% for the same period of time for all other careers.
Interior design is a competitive business. One of the keys to success is getting yourself noticed. That starts with a great portfolio. Another important factor is education.
What is the lowest an interior designer can make? ›Interior designers in the U.S. earn an average of $59,107 per year and some salaries can range from $15,000 to $132,000 per year. Salaries vary according to experience and employer, as well as location.
How long does it take to be a successful interior designer? ›
You can learn these in a relatively short period of time, for example by taking short courses in interior design skills, Approximately one year of intensive study and hard work will be enough to get you a job in an interior design firm, and then you can learn the hands-on part of the job such as project management and ...
What is the difference between interior design and interior decorating? ›Interior design is the art and science of understanding people's behavior to create functional spaces within a building, while interior decorating is the furnishing or adorning of a space with decorative elements to achieve a certain aesthetic. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.
Do you need to be good at drawing to study interior design? ›One of the most common questions asked by students starting on the Interior Design Diploma or short-course is 'Do I have to be able to draw? '. The simple answer is no, but it helps to have some level of ability and confidence in your sketches. Sketching is an essential part of the interior design process.
Do interior designers have to be good at drawing? ›Drawing Skills: Basic hand drawing is one of the most fundamental skills required to succeed in this field. Interior floor plans, space arrangement, and material planning can only be developed and communicated by creating design sketches. Drawing skills can also play a part in visualizing space.
Is interior design a realistic career? ›And we can say confidently that - Interior Design is a promising career. It is an excellent career choice for those who are interested in the field and have a creative imagination.
Is interior design a good side hustle? ›An interior design side hustle allows you to work when it's convenient: As a side hustle, an interior design business allows you to choose your own hours and take on as much or as little work as you want. This flexibility can make it a fun and enjoyable way to earn extra income on the side.
How can interior designers make money from home? ›- Digital Interior Design. Digital interior design entails providing your design expertise online. ...
- Product licensing for Interior design products. ...
- Interior design ecommerce. ...
- Brand promotion through blogging. ...
- Specialty consultations. ...
- Writing a book. ...
- Going digital. ...
- Teaching.
Due to the strict licensing process, the extensive experience required, architects can take on higher-paying projects. An architect earns about $80,000 every year while an interior designer earns about $55,000 per year.
Do interior designers use SketchUp? ›SketchUp is a widely used piece of software in the interior design and architecture community and is great for bringing architectural or design plans to life.
What is the average hourly rate for an Interior Designer in the US? ›Interior Designer Cost Per Hour
The average hourly rate is in the $100 to $200 per hour range, but it depends on a designer's experience level.
What is the highest paying job in the world per month? ›
1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) This post comes with a lucrative salary and high authority, with an overall employment rate supposed to show an average rise of 8% between 2020 and 2030.
How much does a junior Interior Designer earn in the US? ›| Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $60,000 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $26 |
| Average | $47,639 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $20 |
Accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and ranked 8th in the nation by DesignIntelligence for environmental and interior design programs, the major provides a basis for the next generation of creative problem solvers and leaders in the various fields of environmental and interior design.
Does interior design require math? ›Interior designers are frequently required to be mathematically proficient. They must understand basic geometry and how to calculate measurements in order to create accurate floor plans.
What is the GPA of New York School of Interior Design? ›The average GPA at New York School of Interior Design is 3.37.
Who is the top interior designer? ›- 1) Kelly Wearstler | Top Interior Designers.
- 2) Timothy Corrigan.
- 3) Kelly Hoppen | Top Interior Designers.
- 4) Phillipe Starck.
- 5) Mark Cunningham | Top Interior Designers.
Interior design is a competitive business. One of the keys to success is getting yourself noticed. That starts with a great portfolio. Another important factor is education.
Is a certificate in interior design worth it? ›On average, NCIDQ certified interior designers annually make $16,000 more than uncertified interior designers. With this certification, you'll also be more likely to land a job at a respected firm. Before you can apply to take the NCIDQ exam, you must meet education requirements, specifically post-secondary education.
How much is best for interior design? ›Interior designers can charge anything between 3 lakh to 7 lakh or more based on the kind of interiors you choose and the size of the project. It's also important to keep in mind that interior designing costs should generally be 10%-15% of property cost and for larger homes such as villas, it should be about 30%-35%.
Is it hard to study interior design? ›The hardest part of earning a degree in interior design is passing your collegiate level interior design classes. While many of the classes will be challenging, you will be able to pass them if you use all of the resources at your disposal.
Can you be an interior designer without drawing skills? ›
One of the most common questions asked by students starting on the Interior Design Diploma or short-course is 'Do I have to be able to draw? '. The simple answer is no, but it helps to have some level of ability and confidence in your sketches. Sketching is an essential part of the interior design process.
What skills do I need to be an interior designer? ›- design skills and knowledge.
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail.
- customer service skills.
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things.
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure.
- knowledge of building and construction.
- the ability to use your initiative.
Interior designers and interior decorators are job titles that are often used synonymously.
How much do interior designers charge? ›Most interior designers charge for their time by the hour, anywhere from $50 to $500 depending on their experience. On average you can expect to pay $100 to $200 per hour, typically totaling around $5,200 in design fees, not including the cost of furniture.
Do you need a portfolio for interior design? ›You need a portfolio to show people so that they can see what your design skills are and what your expertise is. It should be professional looking and attractive from a design perspective, yes, but the content is king, never forget about this.