The Best Interior Design Schools in Each State
The best interior design schools will teach you design fundamentals, drawing, computer-aided design software, and business foundations to get your career off the ground. But not all schools are created equal.
To sit for NCIDQ, the most common certification exam for interior designers, you need a combination of education and hands-on work experience. If you’re ready to tackle the education portion, consider one of these top interior design schools.
How We Picked The Best Interior Design Schools
Every school on our list is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). A CIDA accreditation ensures the design program meets high standards and prepares entry-level interior designers for a career.
In most states, attending a CIDA-approved interior program is not required to work as a licensed or registered interior designer. You can view interior designer qualifications by state here. However, by attending a CIDA-accredited school, you can ensure that what you’re learning will help you gain a competitive edge in today’s interior design industry.
The CIDA updates accreditations on an ongoing basis, so check with your college of choice to ensure the accreditation is in good standing before enrollment. Colleges not on this list may have received a CIDA accreditation since the process is continuous.
What Education Do You Need to be an Interior Designer?
Education requirements to become an interior designer vary by state. Some states have zero education or licensing requirements, while others require up to a bachelor’s degree.
To qualify to sit for the NCIDQ, the leading certification exam for interior designers, you must have a minimum of an interior design certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree plus 5,280 work experience hours. If you obtain a bachelor’s or master’s degree, you only need 3,520 work hours to sit for the exam.
The Best Interior Design Programs by State
Click on the link below to be directed to program information for the college you’re interested in.
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
- Academy of Art University
- California State Polytechnic University
- Fresno State
- California State University Northbridge
- Design Institute of San Diego
- Interior Designers Institute
- San Diego State University
- Woodbury University
Colorado
Connecticut
Washington D.C.
Florida
- Florida International University
- AI Miami International University of Art and Design
- Florida State University College of Fine Arts
- Seminole State College
- UF College of Design, Construction, and Planning
Georgia
- AI The Art Institue of Atlanta
- Brenau University
- Georgia Southern University
- SCAD – Savannah College of Art & Design
- Lumar Dodd School of Art University of Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
- Ball State University
- IUPUI – Purdue School of Engineering and Technology
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Indiana State University
- Purdue University
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
- LSU College of Art + Design
- Louisiana Tech University School of Design
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Massachusetts
- Boston Architectural College
- Endicott College
- Suffolk University Boston
- UMass Dartmouth
- Wentworth Institute of Technology
Michigan
- Central Michigan University
- Eastern Michigan University
- Kendall College of Art and Design
- LTU
- Michigan State University
- Western Michigan University
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
- Maryville University
- Southeast Missouri State University
- University of Central Missouri
- University of Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
- Cornell University
- Buffalo State
- FIT – Fashion Institue of Technology
- New York Institute of Technology
- New York School of Interior Design
- Pratt School of Design
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Syracuse University
- Villa Maria College
North Carolina
- APP State University
- East Carolina University
- High Point University
- Meredith College
- Queens University of Charlotte
- UNC Greensboro
- Western Carolina University
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Christian University
- OSU Oklahoma State University
- University of Central Oklahoma
- The University of Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
- Chatham University
- Drexel University
- La Roche University
- Moore College of Art & Design
- Thomas Jefferson University
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
- East Tennessee State University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Belmont University
- The University of Memphis
- The University of Tennessee
- The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Texas
- Abilene Christian University
- The Art Institute of Dallas
- The Art Institue of Houston
- The Art Institute of San Antonio
- Baylor University
- Sam Houston State University
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Texas Christian University
- Texas State University
- Texas Tech University
- UNT College of Visual Arts and Design
- University of Texas Arlington
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Texas at San Antonio
- University of the Incarnate Word
- Wade College
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
- Mount Mary University
- University of Wisconsin – Madison
- University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
- UW Stout