Top 10 Universities for Interior Design

Direct Answer

The Best Overall university for interior design is Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, whose CIDA-accredited BFA routinely ranks first nationally and feeds graduates directly into top firms like Gensler and HOK, with a reported mid-90% placement rate within a year of graduation.

The Best Value pick is Auburn University, where in-state students pay roughly $12,500/yr in tuition for a CIDA-accredited program that NCIDQ pass rates and recruiter demand place well above its cost. This list is built for students and families choosing where to study professional interior design — the design discipline governed by accreditation (CIDA), licensure (NCIDQ), and real employer hiring — across the United States.

Every pick below uses real, publicly reported accreditation status, tuition figures, and placement data.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each program against what actually determines whether a graduate gets licensed and hired, drawing on data from CIDA, U.S. News, Niche, the College Board, NCES, and individual university and department pages. The weighting:

• Accreditation and academic strength (CIDA standing) — 25%
• Career and placement outcomes — 20%
• Value and cost — 15%
• Faculty, studios, and resources — 15%
• Industry connections and internships — 15%
• Student fit and portfolio support — 10%

A program that wins on reputation but lacks CIDA accreditation drops fast, because graduates of non-accredited programs face hurdles toward NCIDQ licensure. The winners pair accreditation with real hiring outcomes.

1. Pratt Institute 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Type: Private (art and design institute) | Tuition: $58,000/yr | Best for: Students aiming at top design firms in major markets

Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, enrolls roughly 4,600 undergraduates and operates one of the most respected CIDA-accredited BFA programs in interior design anywhere. The program is consistently ranked #1 nationally by industry surveys such as DesignIntelligence.

Students work in dedicated studios with small student-faculty ratios near 9:1, take coursework spanning lighting, materials, building systems, and human-centered design, and complete a rigorous senior thesis. Pratt's New York location yields strong internship pipelines into firms like Gensler, HOK, Perkins Eastman, and Rockwell Group, and the school reports a mid-90% placement rate for design graduates within a year.

Faculty are practicing designers, and the portfolio-driven admissions process keeps cohorts focused.

Pros:

• #1-ranked CIDA-accredited interior design BFA
• Direct New York pipelines to Gensler, HOK, and Rockwell Group
• Practicing-designer faculty and small studio sections
• Strong reported mid-90% graduate placement

Cons:

• High private tuition near $58,000/yr
• Intensely competitive, portfolio-gated admissions

Verdict: Pratt is the complete package — top accreditation, elite firm access, and the strongest placement record in the field.

2. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Type: Private (art and design college) | Tuition: $59,000/yr | Best for: Students who want a fine-art foundation under their design training

The Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island, enrolls about 2,000 undergraduates and pairs a renowned first-year Experimental and Foundation Studies core with a CIDA-accredited interior architecture program. RISD's interior architecture department emphasizes adaptive reuse and the transformation of existing buildings, a distinctive angle that employers value.

Studios are small, critique culture is intense, and the student-faculty ratio sits near 8:1. Graduates move into top architecture and design firms and into graduate study at the highest level. RISD's brand carries unusual weight in creative hiring, and its New England location places students within reach of Boston and New York markets.

Pros:

• CIDA-accredited interior architecture with an adaptive-reuse focus
• World-class fine-art foundation year
• Very small studios with a near 8:1 ratio
• Elite brand recognition in creative hiring

Cons:

• Tuition near $59,000/yr is among the highest here
• Conceptual, art-heavy approach suits some students more than others

Verdict: RISD is the choice for students who want design grounded in deep fine-art training and a focus on reimagining existing spaces.

3. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Type: Private (art and design university) | Tuition: $41,000/yr | Best for: Students who want resources, recruiting events, and multiple campuses

The Savannah College of Art and Design spans campuses in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, and enrolls more than 15,000 students across disciplines. Its CIDA-accredited interior design program is one of the largest, supported by extensive labs, a materials library, and the school's signature SCADpro industry-collaboration studio that partners students with companies like BMW and Delta.

SCAD's annual recruiting events bring firms to campus in volume, and its career office reports strong employment rates for design graduates. The scale means deep elective options and well-equipped facilities, with practicing faculty across both campuses.

Pros:

• CIDA-accredited program with industry-partner SCADpro studios
• Large materials library and well-funded design labs
• Heavy on-campus recruiting from national brands
• Two campuses, including a major Atlanta market

Cons:

• Large enrollment means less individual attention than tiny studios
• Tuition near $41,000/yr before aid

Verdict: SCAD wins on resources and recruiting muscle — ideal for students who thrive with industry partnerships and big facilities.

4. Parsons School of Design (The New School)

Type: Private (art and design school within a university) | Tuition: $56,000/yr | Best for: Students who want a New York design school inside a broader university

Parsons School of Design at The New School in Manhattan, New York, offers a CIDA-accredited interior design BFA inside one of the most influential design institutions in the country. Enrollment across Parsons exceeds 5,000, and interior design students benefit from a curriculum that integrates sustainability, social impact, and emerging fabrication tools.

The Manhattan location is unmatched for internship access, putting students inside the offices of firms like Gensler, AECOM, and boutique residential studios. Parsons' interdisciplinary structure lets interior design students draw on architecture, product, and lighting courses across the school.

Pros:

• CIDA-accredited BFA in the heart of Manhattan
• Unmatched internship access to NYC firms
• Strong sustainability and social-impact curriculum
• Interdisciplinary access across Parsons programs

Cons:

• Tuition near $56,000/yr plus high NYC living costs
• Large, fast-paced environment can feel impersonal

Verdict: Parsons is the NYC-immersion pick — best for students who want the city itself as part of the education.

5. Cornell University

Type: Private (Ivy League research university) | Tuition: $66,000/yr | Best for: Students who want design inside a top research university

Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, houses interior design within its College of Human Ecology, offering a CIDA-accredited program backed by Ivy League research resources. Total university enrollment tops 15,000 undergraduates, but the Design and Environmental Analysis department keeps cohorts small and rigorous, blending interior design with environmental psychology and human factors research.

Students gain a science-informed view of how spaces affect wellbeing, plus access to faculty publishing at the front of the field. Cornell's name and network open doors at top firms and graduate programs, and financial aid is need-based and generous, softening the high sticker price.

Pros:

• CIDA-accredited program inside an Ivy League university
• Research-driven focus on health, wellbeing, and human factors
• Generous need-based aid offsets the sticker price
• Powerful alumni network across design and research

Cons:

• Sticker tuition near $66,000/yr before aid
• More research-oriented than studio-pure programs

Verdict: Cornell is the research-university pick — strongest for students who want design joined to environmental science and an Ivy network.

6. Auburn University 💎 BEST VALUE

Type: Public (research university) | Tuition: $12,500/yr (in-state) | Best for: Value-focused students who want accreditation without elite-private debt

Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, delivers a CIDA-accredited interior design program through its College of Human Sciences at a fraction of private-school cost — in-state tuition runs about $12,500/yr, with out-of-state near $33,000/yr. The program is housed in well-equipped studios, emphasizes both residential and commercial design, and reports strong NCIDQ preparation and graduate placement into firms across the Southeast.

With total enrollment above 24,000, students also gain a full university experience, Division I athletics, and a deep alumni base. For families weighing outcomes against debt, Auburn's combination of accreditation and low in-state cost is hard to beat.

Pros:

• CIDA-accredited program at roughly $12,500/yr in-state
• Strong NCIDQ preparation and Southeast firm placement
• Well-equipped studios within a major research university
• Far lower debt risk than private design schools

Cons:

• Out-of-state tuition near $33,000/yr narrows the value gap
• Less national-firm recruiting than NYC schools

Verdict: Auburn is the value champion — full CIDA accreditation and solid outcomes for a fraction of private-school tuition.

7. University of Cincinnati

Type: Public (research university) | Tuition: $13,000/yr (in-state) | Best for: Students who want paid co-op work experience built into the degree

The University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio, offers a CIDA-accredited interior design program inside its renowned College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), famous nationally for its mandatory co-op program. Students alternate semesters of study with paid professional placements, graduating with roughly a year and a half of real firm experience and frequently a job offer in hand.

In-state tuition sits near $13,000/yr. DAAP's reputation draws recruiters from across the country, and the co-op model produces some of the most work-ready graduates in the field, with strong reported employment rates.

Pros:

• CIDA-accredited DAAP program with required paid co-ops
• Graduates leave with ~1.5 years of firm experience
• In-state tuition near $13,000/yr
• Nationally recruited design school

Cons:

• Co-op model extends time to degree
• Out-of-state tuition climbs above $28,000/yr

Verdict: Cincinnati is the work-experience pick — its required paid co-ops make graduates uniquely hireable straight out of school.

8. Kansas State University

Type: Public (research university) | Tuition: $10,500/yr (in-state) | Best for: Students who want a top-ranked program at the lowest sticker price

Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, runs a CIDA-accredited interior design program inside its well-regarded College of Architecture, Planning and Design that consistently ranks among the nation's best in industry surveys. In-state tuition is among the lowest here at roughly $10,500/yr.

The program emphasizes evidence-based design, strong technical drawing, and professional practice, and its graduates post high NCIDQ pass rates and strong placement into commercial design firms. Studio culture is collaborative, faculty are accessible, and the program's national ranking gives graduates credibility well beyond its modest cost.

Pros:

• Top-ranked CIDA-accredited program at ~$10,500/yr in-state
• Strong NCIDQ pass rates and commercial-firm placement
• Evidence-based, technically rigorous curriculum
• Collaborative studios with accessible faculty

Cons:

• Rural location limits nearby major-market internships
• Smaller alumni presence on the coasts

Verdict: Kansas State is the high-ranking bargain — elite recognition and outcomes at the lowest tuition on this list.

9. Florida State University

Type: Public (research university) | Tuition: $6,500/yr (in-state) | Best for: In-state Florida students who want accreditation at the lowest possible cost

Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, offers a long-established CIDA-accredited interior design program within its Department of Interior Architecture and Design, with in-state tuition near $6,500/yr — the lowest sticker price here. The program enrolls students into a structured studio sequence covering residential, commercial, and healthcare design, and emphasizes professional licensure preparation.

FSU's large enrollment of more than 32,000 undergraduates brings a full university experience and a wide alumni network across the Southeast. Graduates report solid placement into Florida and regional firms, and the program's longevity gives it deep employer relationships.

Pros:

• CIDA-accredited program at roughly $6,500/yr in-state
• Specialized healthcare and commercial design tracks
• Large alumni network across the Southeast
• Strong licensure-preparation emphasis

Cons:

• Out-of-state tuition jumps above $18,000/yr
• Less national-firm recruiting than coastal art schools

Verdict: Florida State is the in-state value standout — accredited, comprehensive training at the lowest tuition for Florida residents.

10. Drexel University

Type: Private (research university) | Tuition: $60,000/yr | Best for: Students who want co-op experience inside a private design program

Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers a CIDA-accredited interior design program through its Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, built around Drexel's signature co-op program that places students in paid professional roles during the degree.

Enrollment tops 15,000 undergraduates, and the Philadelphia location supplies internship and co-op access to firms across the Northeast corridor. The curriculum blends design studios with business and technology coursework, producing graduates who understand both the craft and the practice of running design projects.

Co-op income also helps offset the private tuition near $60,000/yr.

Pros:

• CIDA-accredited program with paid co-op placements
• Philadelphia and Northeast-corridor firm access
• Business-and-technology coursework alongside studios
• Co-op earnings offset private tuition

Cons:

• High private tuition near $60,000/yr
• Co-op structure lengthens time to graduation

Verdict: Drexel is the private co-op option — strong for students who want paid experience and Northeast firm access inside a full university.

Which One's Right for You?

What to Look For When Choosing an Interior Design Program

• CIDA accreditation — This is the single most important filter. CIDA-accredited degrees keep the path to NCIDQ licensure open; non-accredited programs can create hurdles. Confirm current accreditation directly with CIDA.
• NCIDQ and licensure outcomes — Ask each program for its graduates' NCIDQ exam pass rates and how coursework maps to the experience hours licensure requires.
• Placement and firm relationships — Look for published placement rates, named hiring firms, and active recruiting events rather than vague promises.
• Co-op and internship structure — Programs like Cincinnati and Drexel build paid work into the degree; that experience strongly affects first-job offers.
• Studio resources and faculty — Check the student-faculty ratio, materials library, fabrication labs, and whether faculty are practicing designers.
• Value against debt — Weigh tuition against realistic starting salaries; a CIDA-accredited public program can deliver the same licensure path for far less debt.

What matters less than marketing implies: glossy building photos, generic national-ranking badges detached from accreditation, and broad "design school" branding. CIDA accreditation, NCIDQ outcomes, and named placement affect your career far more than campus aesthetics.

FAQ

Which university is best overall for interior design? Pratt Institute earns our top spot for its #1-ranked CIDA-accredited BFA, direct New York pipelines to firms like Gensler and HOK, and a reported mid-90% placement rate for design graduates.

What is the best-value interior design program? Auburn University is our value pick, offering a CIDA-accredited program at roughly $12,500/yr in-state with strong NCIDQ preparation and Southeast firm placement.

Why does CIDA accreditation matter so much? CIDA accreditation signals that a program meets professional standards and keeps the path to NCIDQ licensure open. Graduates of non-accredited programs can face added hurdles toward becoming licensed interior designers.

Which programs include paid work experience? The University of Cincinnati and Drexel University both build required paid co-op placements into the degree, so graduates leave with substantial real firm experience and often a job offer.

Do I need an expensive private school to succeed in interior design? No. Public programs at Kansas State, Florida State, and Auburn are CIDA-accredited, rank well nationally, and produce strong outcomes for a fraction of private-school tuition.

What's the difference between interior design and interior decorating? Interior design is a regulated profession involving building systems, codes, accessibility, and licensure through NCIDQ, taught in CIDA-accredited degree programs. Decorating focuses on furnishings and aesthetics and is not a licensed profession.

Bottom Line

For students pursuing professional interior design, Pratt Institute is our Best Overall university — a #1-ranked, CIDA-accredited BFA with elite firm pipelines and a mid-90% placement rate. Auburn University, at roughly $12,500/yr in-state, is our Best Value, delivering full CIDA accreditation and strong outcomes without elite-private debt.

If your priorities lean toward NYC immersion, research depth, paid co-ops, or the lowest possible in-state cost, use the decision tree above to route yourself to Parsons, Cornell, Cincinnati, Drexel, Kansas State, or Florida State instead. Choose on accreditation, licensure outcomes, and placement — not campus photos — and your degree will carry you into the profession.

Sources

• U.S. News — Best Interior Design Schools and Colleges
• Niche — Interior Design Program Rankings and Reviews
• CIDA — Council for Interior Design Accreditation, accredited program list
• NCIDQ / CIDQ — interior design licensure and exam information
• College Board — BigFuture college search and tuition data
• NCES — National Center for Education Statistics, College Navigator
• Pratt Institute — Interior Design BFA program
• SCAD — Interior Design degree program
• University of Cincinnati DAAP — Interior Design and co-op
• Auburn University — Interior Design program, College of Human Sciences

*Interior design schools review — best interior design colleges, rankings, ratings, and a review of the top CIDA-accredited programs for students and families.*