Editorial selection · reviewed 3 November 2026
Best Interior Design Schools
An unranked editorial selection of all qualification levels and delivery formats in interior design in the United States, chosen from verified listings where official pages document teaching features. Not a league table.
Unranked and grouped by kind of institution; within each group the order is alphabetical. This is not a league table, no numerical scores are given, and no school paid to be included.
Alabama
Auburn University: Interior Design (INDS)
University · Auburn, Alabama, United States
Bachelor of Science in Interior DesignPortfolio requiredPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: four-year B.S program, 123 semester credit hours.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
May suit: Applicants who can meet the published portfolio guidance: Admission to the sophomore-senior interior design program is based on a faculty portfolio review of pre-interior design coursework; class size limited to 40 students per year.
University of North Alabama: Interior Architecture and Design, BFA
University · Florence, Alabama, United States
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture and DesignPortfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: typically completes the degree program in four years.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
Arizona
Arizona State University: Interior Design, BSD
University · Tempe, Arizona, United States
Interior Design, BSDPortfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: 120 semester credit hours.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
Northern Arizona University: Interior Design, Bachelor of Science (Flagstaff)
University · Flagstaff, Arizona, United States
Bachelor of Science in Interior DesignPortfolio requiredPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: 120 units.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
May suit: Applicants who can meet the published portfolio guidance: Portfolio submitted online and reviewed by interior design faculty before the end of the second semester of year one; pre-major coursework of 10 units with C or better and a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Arkansas
Harding University: Interior Architecture and Design, BFA
University · Searcy, Arkansas, United States
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture and DesignPortfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: Average Time to Degree 4 years, 120 semester credit hours.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
University of Arkansas: Bachelor of Interior Architecture and Design (BIAD)
University · Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
Bachelor of Interior Architecture and DesignPortfolio requiredPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: typically requires four years, or eight semesters, plus one summer session, 124 semester credit hours.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
May suit: Applicants who can meet the published portfolio guidance: Portfolio submitted at the end of the third semester and reviewed by faculty before continuing to upper-level studios.
California
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona: Master of Interior Architecture (M.Int.Arch.)
University · Pomona, California, United States
Master of Interior ArchitecturePortfolio requiredPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: 42 semester credit hours.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
Interior Designers Institute: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design
Design school · Newport Beach, California, United States
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior DesignPortfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: 30–54 months, 180 quarter credit hours.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
Pasadena City College: Interior Design - Occupational Skills Certificate
Community college · Pasadena, California, United States
Interior Design - Occupational Skills CertificatePortfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: Students develop a portfolio of their work during the certificate. Published structure: 15 credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
Colorado
Colorado State University: Interior Architecture and Design (Interior Architecture concentration), BS
University · Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture and DesignPortfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: 120 semester credit hours.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
May suit: Applicants who can meet the published portfolio guidance: Students apply to the Interior Architecture concentration through a Selective Advancement Design Scenario requiring minimum grades in three first-year courses and a 2.500 cumulative GPA.
Connecticut
Fairfield University: MA in Interior Design
University · Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
Master of Arts in Interior DesignPortfolio requirement not confirmed$1,045 per credit, 2026-27
Why it is here: Students present a capstone research project to a panel of industry experts. Published structure: 4-4.5 years, 63 credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
Florida
Florida International University: Master of Interior Architecture (3-Year Track)
University · Miami, Florida, United States
Master of Interior ArchitecturePortfolio requiredPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: 87 credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
May suit: Applicants who can meet the published portfolio guidance: Portfolio of creative work submitted through Get Acceptd; the page gives January 15th as the portfolio deadline without a year.
Florida State University: Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
University · Tallahassee, Florida, United States
Bachelor of Science in Interior DesignPortfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: 120 credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
May suit: Applicants who can meet the published portfolio guidance: Entry to the major follows a first-year review of foundation course work and a mandatory design practicum.
Indian River State College: Interior Design Technology
Community college · Fort Pierce, Florida, United States
Interior Design Technology (associate degree)Portfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: The program includes a hands-on thesis project. Published structure: 2 years.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
University of Florida: Bachelor of Design (B.Des) with a major in Interior Design
University · Gainesville, Florida, United States
Bachelor of Design with a major in Interior DesignPortfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: 120 credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.
Georgia
Georgia Southern University: BS in Interior Architecture & Design
University · Statesboro, Georgia, United States
Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture & DesignPortfolio requirement not confirmedPrice not published
Why it is here: Listed by Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (program accreditation, verified against an official record). Published structure: 124 semester credit hours.
Limitations: Only facts printed on the official pages are used; named faculty, outcomes and industry relationships are not assessed.