Interior Design: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Interior Design is a dynamic, practice-based discipline focused on the strategic creation of functional, aesthetically compelling, and safe interior environments for residential and commercial settings. This program equips students with the technical expertise, creative vision, and regulatory knowledge needed to transform spaces through thoughtful design solutions that meet both human needs and industry standards.
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Visualization Tools: Mastery of industry-standard software for drafting, 3D modeling, and rendering to communicate design concepts with precision and clarity.
- Technical Drafting and Graphic Communication: Development of skills in creating detailed construction drawings, floor plans, and presentation visuals using both digital and traditional methods.
- Lighting and Acoustical Design: Application of principles governing artificial and natural lighting, as well as sound control, to enhance comfort, mood, and functionality within interior spaces.
- Systems Integration and Spatial Planning: Coordination of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems within design layouts to ensure efficiency, safety, and seamless user experience.
- Color Theory and Material Selection: In-depth study of color psychology, coordination, and the properties of finishes, surfaces, and materials to achieve cohesive and durable design outcomes.
- Furniture, Textiles, and Furnishings: Evaluation and selection of furnishings, fabrics, and accessories based on durability, aesthetics, ergonomics, and contextual appropriateness.
- History of Interior Design and Period Styles: Exploration of historical movements, cultural influences, and stylistic evolution to inform authentic and informed design decisions across eras.
- Structural and Safety Fundamentals: Understanding of load-bearing elements, spatial constraints, and foundational structural considerations relevant to interior modifications.
- Building Codes and Regulatory Compliance: Familiarity with local and national regulations governing accessibility, fire safety, egress, and construction standards essential for legal and safe design implementation.
- Contextual Design Applications: Practical application of design principles to diverse environments including offices, hospitality venues, industrial facilities, dining spaces, and residential housing.
Interior Design Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Interior Design Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Interior Design degrees, including Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary and Interior Designers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 78,700 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1031 | $101,480 | $59,590 - $166,720 | 9,120 | N/A |
| Interior Designers 27-1025 | $63,490 | $38,480 - $106,090 | 69,580 | $30.52 |
Interior Design Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $45,090 in West Virginia to $102,070 in California—a 126% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Louisiana. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 78,700 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Interior Design by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Interior Design programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Interior Design is found at New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) (162 graduates), Pratt Institute, Main (129 graduates), Seminole State College of Florida (128 graduates), Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) (109 graduates), and The New School (98 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,143 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
162 | New York, New York | Private | nysid.edu |
| Pratt Institute |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
129 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | pratt.edu |
| Seminole State College of Florida |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
128 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
109 | New York, New York | Public | fitnyc.edu |
| The New School |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
98 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
83 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| Chattahoochee Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
77 | Marietta, Georgia | Public | chattahoocheetech.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
76 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
73 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | rmcad.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
70 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Century College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
67 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota | Public | century.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
66 | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
62 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
62 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Ensign College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
60 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | ensign.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
58 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
56 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Kirkwood Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
54 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Public | kirkwood.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
52 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Bellevue College (BC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
51 | Bellevue, Washington | Public | bellevuecollege.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
49 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
49 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
48 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
48 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Associate's
|
48 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Randolph Community College (RCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
46 | Asheboro, North Carolina | Public | randolph.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
46 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
44 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Canada College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
38 | Redwood City, California | Public | canadacollege.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
37 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
35 | Woodland Park, New Jersey | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
32 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
32 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | cptc.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
31 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Wade College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
31 | Dallas, Texas | Private | wadecollege.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
31 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Design Institute of San Diego (DISD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
30 | San Diego, California | Private | disd.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Athens Technical College (Athens Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | Athens, Georgia | Public | athenstech.edu |
| Lanier Technical College (Lanier Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | Gainesville, Georgia | Public | laniertech.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
29 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | cfcc.edu |
| College of the Canyons |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Santa Clarita, California | Public | canyons.edu |
| West Valley College (WVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Saratoga, California | Public | westvalley.edu |
| Brookdale Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Lincroft, New Jersey | Public | brookdalecc.edu |
| Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | waketech.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Arapahoe Community College (ACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Littleton, Colorado | Public | arapahoe.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | scad.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| Suffolk University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | suffolk.edu |
| High Point University (HPU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | High Point, North Carolina | Private | highpoint.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Interior Designers Institute (IDI) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
25 | Newport Beach, California | Private | idi.edu |
| Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Rosemount, Minnesota | Public | dctc.edu |
| Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Public | wctc.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Associate's
|
24 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College Area (MCC) |
Associate's
|
24 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | mccneb.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Phoenix College (PC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | phoenixcollege.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Western Carolina University (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Cullowhee, North Carolina | Public | wcu.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Suffolk County Community College (SUNY) |
Associate's
|
22 | Selden, New York | Public | sunysuffolk.edu |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | wit.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| Palm Beach State College (PBSC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Lake Worth, Florida | Public | palmbeachstate.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Interior Design programs
How much can I earn with a Interior Design degree?
Salaries for Interior Design graduates vary by role and location. Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $101,480 annually, while Interior Designers earn around $63,490. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $102,070 compared to $45,090 in West Virginia. Approximately 78,700 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Interior Design programs?
Currently 236 accredited institutions offer Interior Design degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) (162 graduates), Pratt Institute, Main (129 graduates), and Seminole State College of Florida (128 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Interior Design growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 8,069 in 2010 to a peak of 5,693 in 2020, before declining slightly to 5,651 in 2023-24. This represents a 30% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Interior Design degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary, Interior Designers, . Related occupations employ approximately 78,700 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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