Quick Highlights:
- Our #1 ranked school for a bachelor’s degree in interior design is the University of Cincinnati, followed by Virginia Tech.
- Interior design programs may offer specializations in areas like commercial, healthcare, and residential design.
- Some programs emphasize business aspects of interior design, which helps prepare students for a variety of career paths in the design industry.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, interior designers can expect to earn an average of $62,510 per year.
Do you look at a space and see what it could be? Do you enjoy designing spaces with details and colors to create a certain atmosphere? If so, interior design may be the field for you. Interior design is a fascinating field full of color! This field blends art, lighting, and function to create spaces to meet a client’s needs.
You already hold the creativity, but you need the credentials to match. Some states require interior designers who work with commercial properties to gain licensure, and other states are following suit. Earning a bachelor’s in interior design is a sure way to succeed in this vibrant field.
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Last Updated: November 14, 2024
What are the Best Bachelor’s in Interior Design Degrees?
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In ranking these 15 bachelor’s degrees in interior design programs, we used the following criteria.
- University must have a current regional accreditation and preferably with programmatic accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) or National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
- Feature a rigorous curriculum consisting of technical skills courses (e.g., 3D Modeling and Rendering), advanced topics (e.g., Sustainable and Green Design), foundational courses (e.g., Art and Design Fundamentals), interior design courses (e.g., Space Planning), and practicum and capstone project
- Provide excellent admission-to-graduation student support services (e.g., academic advising, tutoring)
- Offer financial aid
- Feature satisfactory graduation and job placement rates
University of Cincinnati
American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once called the city of Cincinnati the “Queen City of the West,” and what better location to earn a top interior design bachelor’s degree? Founded in 1919, the University of Cincinnati is ranked “among the top tier of the Best National Universities.” (U.S. News & World Report).
Tuition (2024-2025):
- For Ohio residents: $13,976 annually (UC Uptown)
- For non-residents: 29,310 annually. (UC Uptown)
More than 300,000 alumni call themselves Bearcats, and you may be one too if you pursue UC’s Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. This best BS in interior design entails 126 credit hours and will take you five years to complete if you are a full-time student. Along with major interior design courses, you will prepare a capstone project and gain practical hands-on experiences along the way.
UC’s interior design program also includes:
- study abroad opportunities
- minors
- certificate programs
Graduates are well prepared to jump into careers as interior designers—although some become:
- facility programmers
- computer software designers
- facility managers
- university educators
What makes UC’s interior design pro