Best Interior Design Degree Programs of 2023

The Fashion Institute of Technology offers both an Associate of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. The two-year AAS program covers basic design principles and concepts, and the curriculum includes such areas as space planning, lighting, and how to use various colors, textures, materials, and furnishings. Applicants must have a high school diploma. FIT's two-year BFA program delves into more advanced design techniques, and students learn to apply these to various structures and building types, including vacation homes, townhouses, government buildings, and religious structures. This program includes a two-semester senior thesis project which must be presented before a jury. Those with an AAS in Interior Design from FIT may apply, and applicants will also be considered who have an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or who have 60 credits towards a bachelor's degree.

Converse University offers a BFA in Interior Design. The program covers a wide range of topics, including both manual and digital graphic visualization and presentation, lighting, art, design history, colors, textiles, computer technology, business practices, 2- and 3-D design, drawing, building codes, kitchen and bath design, and more. Students also learn how to use computer software and the internet to do research and design. Every student has the opportunity to participate in an internship with an architectural or interior design firm. The university guarantees that full-time undergraduate students will graduate in four years. If they do not, the classes needed to do so are provided for free. The school also guarantees that graduates will be working or attending graduate school within six months of graduating, or else they can return and get a year's tuition for free at CU.

Through its School of Architecture, Marywood University - a private Catholic institution - offers a Bachelor of Interior Architecture. This four-year program shares some courses with other architecture programs during the first two years. The focus of the program, however, is on interior spaces and how to use colors, materials, textures, and lighting that best suit the space itself as well as its intended use. Subjects of study include digital media, drawing, lighting fundamentals, history and theory of architecture, foreign language, mathematics, religious studies, and philosophy. Applicants should provide official high school or college transcripts. They may provide CAT/SAT scores, but this is not mandatory.

The Bachelor's in Interior Design at Marywood University is designed to equip graduates to work at any interior design firm, either residential or commercial, after graduation. Students study research and visualization methods, principles of architecture, colors, lighting, materials, furniture design, business practice and ethics, and modern software that is used across the industry. A senior capstone project is required in the last year of the program. Internships are available at almost every interior design and architectural firm in St. Louis. All on-campus students at Marywood receive a free iPad. The average class size is 14, and each student is assigned a life coach to guide them and help them get the most out of their time at the university. Applicants should have a high school diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or a GED, and those with prior college experience should provide transcripts.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design at California State University - Long Beach is a four-year, eight-semester program that prepares students to enter the workforce as interior designers or continue studying for their master's degree. The curriculum includes such areas of study as fundamentals of design, written communication, mathematics, computer-aided drafting, lighting design, materials, building systems, computer-aided 3D modeling, and an internship. Transfer students should have already completed all lower division coursework, but the program is still eight semesters. At least 30 credits must be completed in residence at CSU, with at least 24 upper-division and 12 in the major. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required to graduate. Graduates who have at least two years of work experience qualify to take the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) exam to become certified interior designers.

The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design at Auburn University can be completed in nine semesters. The first year covers interior design fundamentals, and students must pass selective admission into the program. Years two and three cover advanced interior design fundamentals, technical and creative courses, and include "studios," where students work on both residential and commercial projects. The summers of the first, second, and third years can be spent exploring internships. Year four, which can be taken in fall, spring, and summer semesters, includes studios in hospitality and healthcare environments, and students must complete a business internship. When working on the studios, students can expect six to eight hours of class time each week, along with additional time working on the actual projects. In order to graduate, students must earn a "C" or higher in all required professional courses. They should plan to purchase their own laptop and studio supplies.

The Interior Design program at Purdue University leads to a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Students gain the education as well as the creative and analytical skills necessary to work in multiple interior environments, including residential, commercial, retail, and healthcare. Coursework comprises core, major, and elective classes and covers such areas as basic drawing, history of art, history of interior design, lighting, human behavior, components and materials, sustainability, building codes, and mechanical systems. Although a portfolio is not required to begin the major, students must pass a selective portfolio review in the spring of their sophomore year in order to move on to upper-level courses. This can be a competitive process, and not all students are chosen to advance. The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

A Christian institution of higher learning, Samford University offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Interior Design. The program includes field experiences, where students travel to design hubs, markets, showrooms, construction sites, and significant architectural sites in order to broaden their knowledge and establish connections in the industry. A senior year project allows them to put into practice what they have learned in a real-world setting. The university fosters a collaborative studio environment, where students work alongside one another. Juniors and seniors can mentor freshmen and sophomores, and some classes are cross-listed, so architecture and interior design students learn together. All professors have professional experience working in the industry. Students have 24/7 access to workspaces with tools such as large format plotters and scanners, 3D printers, a CNC router, and laser cutters. Applicants are encouraged to submit a portfolio for scholarship consideration.

Mississippi College is a Christian university and the oldest institution of higher learning in the state. It offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. The immersive curriculum covers such areas as the history of architecture, fundamentals of interior design, color, lighting, schematic design, and computer software. Graduates are equipped to pursue careers in design, design journalism, sales, and other related fields. The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Applicants who wish to matriculate as freshmen should submit high school transcripts or GED scores, and transfer students should also submit transcripts from any college or university coursework. Applicants who graduated five years or less before applying must submit official SAT, ACT, or CLT scores.

The Interior Design program at Andrews University teaches students the principles of space allocation, material selection, and environmental design. They work on both residential and commercial projects and also study the business side of things, such as budgeting, project management, and administration. Students can also take a trip to Italy, where they learn about the design and architecture of the Waldensian people. A five-week study tour in Europe is also offered as part of the program. The degree takes four years plus one summer to complete. Applicants must have a high school diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.75 or GED College-Ready status. ACT/SAT scores are not required. Andrews University is a Seventh-Day Adventist institution that emphasizes a close relationship with God along with a strong moral code of conduct.