How to Choose an Interior Design School

Start with what you want the qualification to do. A career as a professional interior designer, a role supporting a design firm, and decorating your own or clients’ homes lead to different programs.

1. Check the award, not the label

Compare the exact award title, the institution that issues it and whether it is academic, vocational or a school-issued certificate. Each listing in this directory shows these separately.

2. Check accreditation for the specific program

Program-level accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) covers a named program at a named location. It does not extend to other programs at the same institution. Look for the program and campus on the CIDA register. Candidacy means a program is under review for accreditation; it is not accreditation. See Understanding CIDA accreditation.

3. Look at studio education

Ask how many studio courses there are, how large the studios are, who teaches them, what facilities and material libraries students can use, and whether the program requires internships or a capstone. Only schools can answer these, so check the program page and ask admissions.

4. Read the portfolio and prior-degree rules

Some programs ask for a portfolio at entry, some at a mid-program review, some not at all. Master’s programs differ on whether they expect a prior design degree. See Preparing an interior design portfolio.

5. Compare costs on the same basis

Per-credit, per-term, annual and whole-program prices are not comparable. Add software, drafting and model-making costs. See Tuition, software and materials costs.

6. Confirm the format and where you can enroll

Online programs may not enroll students from every state, and hybrid programs may require campus visits. A program is called fully online here only when no campus attendance is required.

Finally, read the school’s own pages and ask for current information. Facts change, and every record here shows the date it was checked.