Top 10+ Most Esteemed Interior Design Colleges in the United States
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| Best Interior Design Colleges In The US Today |
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There are numerous approaches to pursuing a career in interior design, but attending one of the top interior design schools remains a valuable route for acquiring the skills required of the creative career. More states have begun to require professional licensure in recent years, which generally consists of a combination of classroom education, professional experience, and passing a standardized exam, making design school a worthwhile investment.
If you decide that attending an interior design university is for you, you should do your homework. Follow the instructions in our article below to supplement your research with useful information on Top 10+ Most Prestigious Interior Design Colleges In The US Today.
How much can interior designer earn?
Interior designers in the United States earn a median annual salary of $56,020. The job outlook for interior designers is also promising, with employment expected to grow 10% between 2020 and 2030, faster than the national average.
What skills are required?
The education and skill requirements for a career in interior design vary depending on the role you want. Most employers, however, require a bachelor's degree in interior design or a related field. Some employers may also require drafting, computer-aided design, or 3D modeling experience.
Top 10+ Most Prestigious Interior Design Colleges In The US Today
1. New York School of Interior Design
https://www.nysid.edu/
Location: New York
Cost: $1,150 tuition per credit
Job placement: 95% of undergraduates, 98% of graduates, and 100% of MFA graduates have received jobs within 12 months of graduation.
Notable alumni: Rose Tarlow, Penny Drue Baird
The New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) is a private, non-profit college that specializes solely in interior design. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design program at NYSID is a four-year program that covers topics such as space planning, furniture design, lighting design, and color theory. Students have access to professionals in the industry, internships, and networking opportunities.
2. Parsons School of Design (The New School)
https://www.prepscholar.com/sat/s/colleges/Parsons-The-New-School-for-Design-admission-requirements
Location: New York
Tuition: $26,854 per full-time semester
The Parsons School of Design (one of The New School's five colleges) has some well-developed networks in commerce and industry, so this school may be a particularly good option for those interested in commercial design.
If you're not sure what you want to specialize in, you can still find it here: Parsons offers over 35 undergraduate and graduate programs (their graduate programs are also highly regarded).
3. Drexel University
https://drexel.edu/
Location: Philadelphia
Tuition: $54,766 per year
The interior design program at Drexel combines the study of interior design with the study of art and art history. Students investigate both the aesthetic and behavioral aspects of interior design.
Drexel's interior design degree, offered through the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, combines design theory with real-world experience and rigorous professional preparation. General education requirements, in conjunction with art, art history, and core interior design courses, lay the groundwork for advanced design studios. Human experience, materials and form, and sustainability drive the course forward from there, teaching students how to approach the creative process responsibly.
4. Academy of Art University
https://www.academyart.edu/art-degree/interior-architecture/
Location: San Francisco, California
Cost: Tuition starts at $1,041 per credit for undergraduate programs and $1,171 per credit for graduate courses.
Student Opportunities: At times, practical tasks are real-world projects students need to complete. They are often for corporate clients with strict deadlines.
The Academy of Art University has a large campus spread throughout San Francisco and offers a variety of degrees. This means that studies are accompanied by a vibrant student life as well as increased learning.
Students interested in interior design will attend the School of Interior Architecture & Design. In this case, conceptual, theoretical, and practical instruction are all equally important. Graduates can pursue a variety of careers, including visualization specialists and project designers.
5. Savannah College Of Art And Design
https://www.scad.edu/academics/programs/interior-design
Location: Savannah, Georgia, and satellite campuses in Atlanta, Georgia, and Lacoste, France
Cost: One-hour credit starts at $852, while the average annual tuition is $38,340.
Student Opportunities: SCAD helps students in many ways. They include resume development, mock interviews, teaching self-promotion, and assisting in finding internships.
According to DesignIntelligence and Red Dot Design Rankings, SCAD is one of the top (if not the best) interior design schools in the United States. The programs at the college of interior design also provide students with access to SCADpro, an in-house consultancy. Students can gain firsthand industry experience here.
Courses can lead to a variety of careers, ranging from interior design to health care facility design. Students can also begin their pre-college program early.
6. Virginia Tech – Blacksburg, VA
Vt.edu
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Cost: $31,754 out-of-state; $12,104 in-state. Architecture and design students are also required to pay an annual $1,500 fee.
Job placement: 94% employment for interior design graduates
Notable alumni: Martin Felsen, Charles W. Steger
The interior design school at Virginia Tech emphasizes theory, research, and practical knowledge, as well as a tradition of iteration and making. Students learn how to design spaces that prioritize health, safety, and welfare while adhering to various codes and regulations. Virginia Tech's curriculum honors the industry's past, present, and future with core classes ranging from History in Interior Design to Startup: Commercialization of Innovation. (In addition, the curriculum includes special courses dedicated to understanding logistics, such as geometry and design mathematics.)
7. Pratt Institute
Location: Brooklyn
Tuition: $55,575 per year for full-time students
If you want to get a job right after graduation, you should definitely look into the Pratt Institute. In 2019, 94% of graduates (who took the survey) found work within a year of graduation.
The Pratt Institute, like the other schools on this list, has a highly regarded graduate program in interior design. You'll learn about topics like sustainable practice, environmental quality, aesthetics, and changing technologies in this MFA program.
8. Parsons School Of Design
https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/
Location: New York
Tuition: $26,854 per full-time semester
The New School, a university in New York, NY, is made up of seven schools. One of these schools is Parsons School of Design, which is one of the best interior design schools in the country. Here, interior design students will find programs ranging at levels ranging from undergraduate certificates to graduate degrees.
9. Rhode Island School Of Design
Location: Providence
Tuition: $56,435 per year for full-time students (both undergrad and graduate)
RISD, one of the most well-known and highly regarded arts and design schools in the United States, is located in Providence, a city with one of the highest concentrations of artists in the country. At RISD, the interior design major is known as "interior studies" or "interior architecture".
RISD is particularly well-known for providing students with hands-on experience and coursework. If you want to go to grad school, you should know that RISD has a highly ranked grad program for interior design, where you can earn an MA degree.
10. Auburn University Interior Design School
https://www.auburn.edu/
Location: Auburn, Alabama
Cost: Tuition starts at $5,915 per semester for Alabama residents and $15,993 for out-of-state residents.
Student Opportunities: Auburn University’s excellent reputation certainly counts. Students typically receive no less than one job offer after graduation.
All Auburn University interior design graduates have found employment in the last few years. As a result, acceptance is highly selective. Students must complete a pre-planned academic year before being evaluated. The best are then chosen to complete the interior design certificate program in nine semesters.
Students can anticipate a multidisciplinary education that emphasizes communication and teamwork. Hiring companies undoubtedly value and admire this method. As a result, Auburn University is rated highly by DesignIntelligence.
11. Design Institute of San Diego
https://www.disd.edu/
Location: San Diego, California
Cost: B.F.A. tuition starts at $925 (full-time students) and $1,134 (part-time students). M.I.D. tuition starts at $1,400 per credit.
Student Opportunities: Design Institute has an externship as part of the undergraduate’s third year. It lets students get a taste of the professional environment as well as build a network of contacts and trade resources.
Design Institute, a private interior design college, provides small class sizes to ensure students get the most out of their studies. Its courses are also designed to turn a passion for interior design into a lucrative career. It also emphasizes social responsibility and sustainable design practices. You can look at previous students' coursework to get an idea of the caliber required.
Students who complete their studies find employment opportunities shortly after graduation. Within six months of graduation in 2018, 84% of students found employment in the interior design field.
12. Fashion Institute of Technology
https://www.fitnyc.edu/
Location: New York
Tuition: $3,585 per semester for in-state students; $10,846 for out-of-state students
FIT is well-known for its fashion design programs, but it also has a robust interior design program. With approximately 400 students, it is the largest program of its kind in NYC. You will have the opportunity to work with top professionals in the area if you attend FIT, such as architects and interior/lighting/graphic designers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right college for interior design is an important decision that requires careful research and consideration. The colleges listed above are among the best in the country and offer rigorous and comprehensive design programs. By attending one of these schools, you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals, gain hands-on experience, and build a strong foundation for a successful career.
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