Laura Berlinsky-Schine February 25, 2021 5 11th Grade,12th Grade,Majors and Minors

List of All U.S. Colleges with an Interior Design Major

What’s Covered:

• Overview of the Interior Design Major
• What to Look for in an Interior Design Program
• List of Schools with an Interior Design Major
• What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

When you enter a room, how do you feel? Is the space warm and inviting? Are there tasteful decorations and a welcoming atmosphere? This could be thanks to an interior designer.

Interior designers make inside spaces aesthetically-pleasing and functional. They work with a wide range of facilities, from private homes to hospitals to office settings to hotel lobbies.

If you have an eye for detail, an artistic mind, and technical competence, then interior design could be the path for you. 

Overview of Interior Design

To become an interior designer, you’ll usually need a bachelor’s degree. Although associate degree programs in interior design do exist, you may have difficulty finding a job beyond the assistant level unless you complete an additional two years of education (four years in total).

A bachelor’s degree program in interior design typically includes coursework in areas like:

• Color theory
• Lighting
• Materials
• Interior design graphics
• Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CAD)
• History of interiors
• Space planning
• Sustainability
• Interior design business practices
• Interior design graphics
• Building codes
• Hands-on studio experience
• Drawing

Some states require practicing interior designers to be certified. That means passing an exam administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). There are different requirements for certification, including education and experience.

Although there are master’s degree programs in interior design, people don’t typically need graduate degrees to practice.

In addition to qualities and traits like design and aesthetic sense, successful interior designers should have skills such as:

• Communication
• Attention to detail
• Budgeting
• Technical knowledge
• Problem-solving
• Creativity
• Time management
• Interpersonal skills

Many (but not all) interior designers work with clients as independent contractors, meaning they are effectively conducting their own businesses. This, of course, additionally demands a strong business sense and the ability to self-manage. Others work in interior design firms, construction sites, commercial stores, and other settings. No matter where they work, they will often travel to client spaces, too.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median salary of $56,040 among interior designers in the U.S. in 2019.

What to Look for in a College as an Interior Design Major

Accreditation

It’s a good idea to pursue interior design bachelor’s degree programs that are accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). This will prepare you for your career, as well as the NCIDQ exam.

Cutting-Edge Technologies

Technology is fundamental to a strong interior design program. At Parsons School of Design, in which The New School’s program in interior design is housed, the coursework is intended to prepare students to “develop new design approaches using traditional fabrication methods as well as emerging technologies, such as bio-based materials and virtual and augmented reality.”

Students should look for programs that use and train students to use the latest technologies for their education and careers, including CAD, a fundamental practice in the field.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Becoming an interior designer requires hands-on practice. Look for programs that give students the opportunity to engage in experiential learning through internships, apprenticeships, and other real-world practice. Not only will this give you a strong foundation in your craft, but it will help you secure a job in the field after you graduate.

Baylor University, for example, requires students to complete an internship with a qualified interior designer or architect for course credit. Students can also participate in a summer study abroad program to see examples of design and architecture firsthand in destinations like Britain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Specializations

When you start your program, you probably won’t know what your specialty will be, or if you’ll have one at all. That said, you should still seek out programs that will prepare you for a range of niches. Some common specialties are:

• Corporate
• Healthcare
• Kitchen
• Lighting 
• Sustainability
• Universal

List of All U.S. Colleges With an Interior Design Major

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

Top colleges use the Academic Index, a metric that represents the strength of your GPA and test scores, to filter out applicants before even looking at qualitative factors. Because extracurricular activities are so important for prospective interior design students, you should make sure adcoms get a chance to see your application by bringing an exemplary academic profile to the table.

To find out your true odds of admission to the best interior design schools, we recommend trying our free Chancing Engine (it’s free). Informed by data like your academic records and extracurricular activities, it will estimate your real chances of admission to these and hundreds of other schools in the U.S.