15 Interior Design Schools Worth Applying To - Architectural Digest

4/7/2021 15 Interior Design Schools Worth Applying to | Architectural Digest
Schools
15 Interior Design Schools Worth

Applying to
Decided you want to be an interior designer? Consult AD PRO’s list of the top interior
design schools to consider
By Meaghan O'Neill
December 25, 2019
The Savannah College of Art and Design received the top ranking on
DesignIntelligence's list of the best interior design schools in 2019. Photo: Courtesy of
SCAD
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If you are considering applying to interior design school, you’ll want to research
all your options first. Formal education is becoming increasingly important in the
interior design profession: Twenty-six states require licensure for interior
designers, which typically necessitates a combination of classroom education,
professional experience, and passing a standardized exam. Certain schools on this
list are recognized by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, or CIDA,
which means they have been found to meet the highest standards for interior
design education—a designation that may help ensure students are learning what
the industry considers to be the fundamentals.
Regardless of an aspiring designer’s exact career path and whether licensure is a

goal, these undergraduate programs in interior design or interior architecture are
sure to provide the sort of rigorous training and access to internship opportunities
that will set a student up for success. These institutions and programs teach
students how to consider human health, well-being, and safety in their design
process, while also honing their creativity and fine-tuning their technical
knowledge. Here are 15 programs to know.
Editor’s note: The costs mentioned for each school are an estimate of the tuition plus
mandatory fees, and do not include room and board. Costs will vary from student to
student. The job placement statistics shown here feature the most recently available
data for each program or university, if program-specific data was not available.
Savannah College of Art and Design

SCAD’s interior design program consistently appears on top lists for domestic and
international universities; in fact, 2019 marks the seventh time in 11 years that it
received the top ranking on DesignIntelligence’s list of best interior design
schools. SCAD also ranked second on the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings in
2019. The program encourages collaborative projects, innovation, critical
thinking, effective communication, and professional ethics. Career prep is also
paramount; résumé and portfolio development, mock interviews, and self-
promotion are all built into the curriculum. And satellite campuses in Atlanta and
Hong Kong offer students access to a global education.
Program: Interior Design
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Degree offered: BFA
CIDA accredited: Yes
Local opportunities: Yes. High-level internships are encouraged in Atlanta and

Savannah.
Cost: $37,575
Job placement: 98% placement in design positions or enrollment in graduate

school for interior design graduates
Notable alumni: Christian Sottile, Maruja Fuentes
The New School, Parsons School of Design

With the very first interior design curriculum launched in the U.S. in 1906,
Parsons has long framed interior design as an “intellectually rigorous creative
force in everyday life.” Today this research-based, intensive curriculum provides a
solid foundation for a career in interior design. As part of Parsons’s School of
Constructed Environments, interior design students work closely with faculty,
peers, and outside professionals to design spaces that consider sustainability,
diversity, and well-being. Coursework ranges from study of materiality, art
history, and design theory to hand drawing, renderings, and three-dimensional
modeling. Graduates leave well prepared to pursue work in interior, lighting, set,
event, and exhibition design, as well as historic preservation.
Location: New York
Degree offered: BFA
CIDA accredited: No
Local opportunities: Abundant. Parsons’s excellent connections and location give

students access to influential firms and showrooms, museums, galleries, and
auction houses.
Cost: $26,446
Job placement: 80% employment for Parsons School of Design graduates at

large
Notable alumni: Victoria Hagan, Jamie Drake, Mario Buatta, Albert Hadley,
Angelo Donghia, Bob Williams
Cornell University
At Cornell, interior design is taught through the Design and Environmental
Analysis program, part of the College of Human Ecology. The STEM-certified
program offers a flexible curriculum that requires students to complete

foundational courses before focusing on electives that support individual
educational goals. These specializations are organized around three primary
research themes: design strategy and innovation, sustainable futures, and health
and well-being. Alongside their chosen area of expertise, students may also
pursue a minor, honors thesis, or off-campus study. The D+EA program boasts
faculty from a wide spectrum of disciplines and emphasizes innovation.
Program: Design and Environmental Analysis
Location: Ithaca, New York
Degree offered: BS
Local opportunities: Some. Many students participate in off-campus study or

summer internships, typically in New York, Washington, D.C., or abroad.
Cost: $56,550 out-of-state; $37,880 in-state. Because the College of Human

Ecology is a state contract college within the university, New York state residents
are eligible for the in-state fee.
Job placement: 65% employment and 100% acceptance to graduate school for
Design and Environmental Analysis graduates
Notable alumni: Art Gensler, Richard Meier
New York School of Interior Design

With its comprehensive interior design education and focus on the liberal arts,
NYSID produces apt critical thinkers who are culturally, socially, and historically
aware. Students learn about presentation as well as business, legal, and
administrative necessities, garnering effective communication skills and technical
proficiency. NYSID’s curriculum also satisfies educational requirements for
membership in industry associations and prepares them for the National Council
for Interior Design Qualification Examination. With required internships, study-
abroad programs, and more than 100 faculty members who are practicing
designers (with firms that include Gensler, HOK, and Perkins + Will), NYSID
amply prepares graduates to enter the real world of interior design.
Location: New York
Degree offered: BFA
Local opportunities: Many. NYSID’s extensive network of connections means

internships and professional networking is easy to access.
Cost: $35,771
Job placement: 100% employment for NYSID graduates
Notable alumni: Rose Tarlow, Penny Drue Baird
Many faculty members at the New York School of Interior Design are practicing
designers at firms such as Gensler, HOK, and Perkins + Will. Photo: Courtesy of the New York
School of Interior Design
Syracuse University
At Syracuse, Environmental and Interior Design students explore the art and
architecture of design in a studio environment that mimics professional settings.
The focus here is on cross-disciplinary philosophies and projects in addition to a
broad liberal arts education. Syracuse’s interior design department also teaches
visualization and communications skills alongside in-depth technical methods.
Students are encouraged to study abroad in their junior year in London or
Florence, and to pursue internships in Syracuse, New York City, and beyond.
Program: Environmental and Interior Design
Location: Syracuse, New York
Degree offered: BFA
Local opportunities: Yes, though students are also encouraged to look for
opportunities beyond Syracuse.
Cost: $53,849
Job placement: 83% employment for Environmental and Interior Design

graduates
Notable alumni: Thom Filicia, Ian Schrager, Sol Le Witt
Drexel University
The interior design program at Drexel, part of the Westphal College of Media Arts
& Design, focuses on human experience, materials and form, and sustainability,
while providing rigorous professional preparation. General education
requirements, combined with art, art history, and core interior design courses, set
the stage for complex design studios. Experiential learning is also paramount
here, and is executed through a professional co-op program. Drexel also
emphasizes sustainable practices as inherent to contemporary design, and offers a
minor in Sustainability in the Built Environment. Opportunities to study abroad
abound, with programs in Prague and London, seven-week studios in Denmark,
and shorter tours to Barcelona, Paris, and Rome on offer.
Location: Philadelphia
Degree offered: BS
Local opportunities: Yes. Students must complete a six-month professional co-op

work experience, and internships are encouraged.
Cost: $56,921
interior design graduates
Notable alumni: Douglas Ellington, Maxfield Parrish

Fashion Institute of Technology

Long known for turning out creative professionals who become successful artists
and entrepreneurs, the Fashion Institute of Technology's interior design program
emphasizes practical skills and environmental standards through
multidisciplinary studies and hands-on projects. Drafting, computer modeling,
lighting, and materials and methods classes are taught by leading industry
professionals at this State University of New York school. Helping students gain
proficiency in the latest technology, business, and presentation skills, plus a firm
foundation in the liberal arts, is an integral focus of the program, the largest of its
kind in New York City.
Location: New York
Degree offered: BFA
Local opportunities: Yes. Students have many opportunities to work and network
with high-profile designers and architects at top firms such as Gensler and
Rockwell Group.
Cost: $16,490 out-of-state; $6,110 in-state
Job placement: 89% employment for interior design graduates
Notable alumni: Kathryn Gustafson, Cathy Hobbs, Jhane Barnes, Calvin Klein
University of Cincinnati
With a curriculum focused on problem-solving, formal design skills, and
historical and technical knowledge, the School of Architecture and Interior
Design at the University of Cincinnati grounds students in academics while
prepping them for the ever-evolving needs of professional life. Linked with the
architecture curriculum at the university's College of Design, Architecture, Art,
and Planning, this five-year program prepares students for work in a spectrum of
sectors, from commercial to hospitality to health care. U. Cincinnati also includes
travel abroad and exchange programs in England, Germany, and Denmark, as well
as mandatory professional work in the U.S. or overseas.
Program: School of Architecture and Interior Design
Location: Cincinnati
Degree offered: BS
Local opportunities: Yes, some. The city offers a variety of cultural resources and
work opportunities. Required co-ops are arranged with firms all over the world.
Job placement: 86% employment for School of Architecture and Interior Design
graduates
Notable alumni: Michael Graves, Eva Maddox
Rhode Island School of Design

Known for its dedication to arts education, RISD’s interior architecture program is
consistently considered one of the best interior design schools. RISD’s program
sits at the intersection of architecture, conservation, and design. Adaptive reuse
and transformation of existing buildings is central to the curriculum, which asks
students to specialize in theater, exhibition, or retail design. The interior
architecture program looks “less at surface materials than at understanding the
design of buildings from inside out,” the school explains of its holistic approach.
Many graduates go on to work in set or retail design or conservation.
Program: Interior Architecture
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Degree offered: BFA
CIDA accredited: No
Local opportunities: Some. With easy access to both New York and Boston, plus
a strong arts community and culture in Providence, internship opportunities aren’t
far away.
Cost: $52,860
Job placement: 99% employment (including full-time, part-time, and freelance

employment or internships) for RISD graduates at large
Notable alumni: Nader Tehrani, Michael Maltzan
RISD’s highly ranked interior architecture program asks students to specialize in

theater, exhibition, or retail design. Photo: John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images
Kansas State University

At K-State’s Department of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design, the interior
design program explores what it describes as the “intersections between human
ecological theory, design theory, and interior design practice.” With an emphasis
on human well-being, sustainability, and evidence-based strategies, the program
helps students develop competency in lighting, acoustics, codes and regulations,
resiliency, construction technologies, and more. Through its professional
mentorship program and options to study abroad in Guatemala, Great Britain,
Korea, Italy, and France, graduates complete their education with a well-rounded
worldview and understanding of their role in the spectrum of design.
Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Degree offered: BS
Local opportunities: Some. The school’s DesignExpo brings together students

and professionals from firms throughout the country, leading to summer and
academic internships or postgraduate employment.
Notable alumni: Jo Staffelbach Heinz
Auburn University
Students must be formally accepted into the competitive interior design program
at Auburn, which is part of the Department of Consumer and Design Sciences. At
the end of the first full academic year, all pre–interior design students are
evaluated; the top 36 are admitted into the program. During the nine-semester
curriculum, students can expect intensive studios and must complete a
professional internship. They can also earn the LEED Green Associate credential
and EDAC (Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification) credentials
for health care settings through the program. Study abroad in Italy is strongly
encouraged; academic tours to New York, Rome, and London are also available.
Location: Auburn, Alabama
Degree offered: BS
Local opportunities: Some local internships.
Job placement: 100% employment or enrollment in graduate school for interior

design graduates
Notable alumni: Samuel Mockbee, Paul Rudolph
Virginia Tech
Theory, research, and practical knowledge, combined with a tradition of iteration
and making, are top characteristics of Virginia Tech’s interior design program.
Students learn how to develop spaces that consider health, safety, and welfare, and
comply with various codes and regulations. As part of the School of Architecture
and Design, interior design students at Virginia Tech interact regularly with
students and faculty from related programs. Several opportunities to study abroad
in Europe also enhance the academic experience.
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Degree offered: BS
CIDA accredited Yes
Local opportunities: Some. Students frequently study abroad or intern in other

locations.
Notable alumni: Martin Felsen, Charles W. Steger
Pratt Institute
Offering one of the first interior design programs in the country, Pratt is widely
recognized for being a top school for interior design. This architecturally
oriented program, which is part of the School of Design, emphasizes spatial
design and surface embellishment, always with a sensitivity to the human
occupants. Students begin studio classes that focus on collaboration in a
competitive setting in their sophomore year; studies culminate in a research-based
senior thesis project. With a firm commitment to social and environmental
responsibility and professional ethics, the department prepares students for entry
into the workforce, advanced study, professional associations, and the National
Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam. A study abroad option
in Copenhagen is also available.
Location: New York
Degree offered: BFA
Local opportunities: Yes. Pratt's location in New York means students have ample
opportunity to work with high-level professional firms and showrooms.
Cost: $53,824
interior design graduates
Notable alumni: Annabelle Selldorf, Peter Zumthor

The Pratt Institute’s well regarded interior design program prepares students to take
the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam. Photo: Courtesy of Pratt
Institute
Florida State University

Human-centered design drives academics at FSU's Department of Interior
Architecture and Design, a part of the College of Fine Arts. The program consists
of sequential learning, providing education in all aspects of interior design for
residential, health care, hospitality, commercial, and low-income housing
projects. The four-year program equips graduates to sit for the NCIDQ exam, and
to become licensed as interior designers in the state of Florida.
Program: Department of Interior Architecture and Design
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Degrees offered: BS, BA
Local opportunities: Yes. Required internships are arranged with local interior
design and architectural firms, in other Florida cities, and throughout the U.S.
Department of Interior Architecture and Design graduates
Notable alumni: Grant Gribble, Lisa Kinch Waxman
Thomas Jefferson University

The robust interior design program at Jefferson University in Philadelphia offers
a functional and technical education peppered with interdisciplinary courses on
topics such as human behavior, sustainable design, construction detailing,
building systems, and more. Studios and coursework synthesize creative
experimentation and research-driven problem solving. Collaborative work
reflects real-world design processes, and students may pursue secondary
specializations in business, construction management, textile design, historic
preservation, or photography. Optional study abroad programs in Copenhagen
and Rome round out the student experience.
Location: Philadelphia
Degree offered: BS
Local opportunities: Yes. Internships, professional organizations, and

professional partnerships are readily accessible.
Cost: $41,715
Job placement: 94% employment or enrollment in graduate school for interior

design graduates
Notable alumni: Ghislaine Viñas, Kim Wannop
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4/7/2021 15 Interior Design Schools Worth Applying to | Architectural Digest

15 Interior Design Schools Worth

December 25, 2019

Join AD PRO and save 20% on an annual

Regardless of an aspiring designer’s exact career path and whether licensure is a

Savannah College of Art and Design

Program: Interior Design

Location: Savannah, Georgia

Degree offered: BFA

CIDA accredited: Yes

Local opportunities: Yes. High-level internships are encouraged in Atlanta and

Job placement: 98% placement in design positions or enrollment in graduate

Notable alumni: Christian Sottile, Maruja Fuentes

The New School, Parsons School of Design

Program: Interior Design

Location: New York

Degree offered: BFA

Local opportunities: Abundant. Parsons’s excellent connections and location give

Job placement: 80% employment for Parsons School of Design graduates at

program offers a flexible curriculum that requires students to complete

Program: Design and Environmental Analysis

Location: Ithaca, New York

CIDA accredited: Yes

Local opportunities: Some. Many students participate in off-campus study or

Cost: $56,550 out-of-state; $37,880 in-state. Because the College of Human

Notable alumni: Art Gensler, Richard Meier

New York School of Interior Design

Location: New York

Degree offered: BFA

CIDA accredited: Yes

Local opportunities: Many. NYSID’s extensive network of connections means

Job placement: 100% employment for NYSID graduates

Notable alumni: Rose Tarlow, Penny Drue Baird

Program: Environmental and Interior Design

Location: Syracuse, New York

Degree offered: BFA

CIDA accredited: Yes

Job placement: 83% employment for Environmental and Interior Design

Notable alumni: Thom Filicia, Ian Schrager, Sol Le Witt

Program: Interior Design

CIDA accredited: Yes

Local opportunities: Yes. Students must complete a six-month professional co-op

Notable alumni: Douglas Ellington, Maxfield Parrish

Fashion Institute of Technology

Program: Interior Design

Location: New York

Degree offered: BFA

CIDA accredited: Yes

Cost: $16,490 out-of-state; $6,110 in-state

Job placement: 89% employment for interior design graduates

Program: School of Architecture and Interior Design

CIDA accredited: Yes

Cost: $26,994 out-of-state; $11,660 in-state

Notable alumni: Michael Graves, Eva Maddox

Rhode Island School of Design

Program: Interior Architecture

Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Degree offered: BFA

Job placement: 99% employment (including full-time, part-time, and freelance

Notable alumni: Nader Tehrani, Michael Maltzan

RISD’s highly ranked interior architecture program asks students to specialize in

Kansas State University

Program: Interior Design