If you are considering applying to a Bachelor of Interior Design in USA and want to know about interior design schools, tuition fees, entry requirements of these schools and so on, you have arrived at the right place.
Interior design degree focuses on creativity, effective verbal and graphic communication skills, technical proficiency, and sustainability. The tuition fees for a Bachelor of Interior design in the USA ranges from USD 15,000 to USD 55,000 per year.
This degree provided in the USA is utterly comprehensive. As a result, upon graduation, you will be completely prepared to kick start a career in interior design. Most of the top institutes offering this program in the USA are accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
This degree can open doors to many career pathways like Corporate Interior Designer, Display Designer, Interior Architect, Interior Designer, Exhibit Designer, Lighting Designer and so on. Professionals can earn anywhere from USD 60,000 to USD 130,000 via these jobs.
Why study Bachelor of Interior Design in the USA?
- Bachelor of Interior Design course is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
- The B.F.A. in Interior Design in the US meets the educational requirements for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam)
- Top Interior Design Schools in the USA have a placement rate of 80-100%.
- According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for interior designers is expected to rise by 13% between 2012 and 2022.
- Compared to the bachelor designers with Certificates or diplomas in the USA, designers with Bachelor degrees are likely to get 32% more salary.
Top Schools in USA for Interior Design Degree
University/College |
Ranking by Design School Hubs |
Savannah College of Arts and Design |
1 |
Pratt Institute |
2 |
Rhode Island School of Design |
3 |
New York School of Interior Design |
4 |
The University of Cincinnati in Ohio |
5 |
Parsons The New School for Design |
6 |
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) |
7 |
Cornell University, Itahaca, NY |
8 |
Syracuse University |
9 |
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA |
10 |
Interior Design Courses in USA for international students
S.N |
University/ College |
Program |
1 |
New York School of Interior Design |
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design |
2 |
Arizona State University |
Bachelor of Science in Design- Interior Design |
3 |
Berkeley College |
Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A) |
4 |
Washington State University |
BA Interior Design |
5 |
News School of Architecture & Design |
Bachelor of Interior Architecture & Design |
6 |
Rochester Institute of Technology |
Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree |
7 |
The University of Texas at San Antonio |
Bachelors in Interior Architecture |
8 |
Savannah College of Art and Design |
BFA in Interior Design |
9 |
George Washington University |
BFA in Interior Architecture |
10 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
Bachelor of Interior Design |
11 |
Parsons School of Design |
BFA in Interior Design |
12 |
Colorado State University |
BSc in Interior Architecture and Design |
13 |
South Dakota University |
Bachelor in Interior Design |
14 |
Liberty University |
BSc in Interior Design |
15 |
High Point University |
Bachelor in Interior Design |
16 |
Auburn University |
BS in Interior Design |
17 |
Kansas State University |
BS in Interior Design |
18 |
Rhode Island School of Design |
BFA in Interior Architecture |
19 |
Cornell University |
BS in Design and Environmental Analysis |
20 |
Syracuse University |
BFA in Interior Design |
Bachelor of Interior Design Fees in USA
University/ College |
Location |
Approximate Annual fees |
New York School of Interior Design |
New York, NY |
32,450 |
Savannah College of Art and Design |
Savannah, GA |
40,856 |
George Washington University |
Washington, DC |
39,562 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
Blacksburg, VA |
17,190 |
Parsons School of Design |
New York, NY |
45,504 |
Cornell University |
Ithaca, NY |
56,550 |
Drexel University |
Philadelphia |
56,921 |
Fashion Institute of Technology |
New York |
16,490 |
University of Cincinnati |
Cincinnati |
26,994 |
Rhode Island of School Design |
Providence, Rhode Island |
52,860 |
Admission Requirements
You first meet the admission requirements and secure an admission if you want to study design courses in the USA.
Documents for application
- Academic documents of high school diploma and class 10 (this includes official transcripts, provisional and character certificates).
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letter of Recommendation (LOR) if asked
- English test score (IELTS/TOEFL/ PTE)
- Application fees (USD 60 to 150)
- Passport
- Proof of Scholarships if any
- ACT/SAT Scores (Not for all universities)
Academic Criteria
Applicants need to pass a high school diploma with the following coursework or its international equivalent.
- 4 years math
- 4 years English (non-ESL/ELL courses)
- 3 years lab sciences (1 year each from biology, chemistry, earth science, integrated sciences or physics)
- 2 years social sciences (including 1-year American history)
- 2 years same second language
- 1 year fine arts or 1-year career and technical education
English Language Criteria
English Test Scores are mandatory requirements for applying for an MPA Course if you are an international student from an English non-speaking country.
Generally, the cut-off scores asked by many Top MPA universities are:
- IELTS: An overall band score of 6.0 to 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band.
- TOEFL: An overall score of 60 to 85, with a minimum of 15 in each field.
- PTE: An overall score of 50-65, with a minimum of 50 in each communication skill
Scholarships
- Gal Grant
- Vercelli Voss Scholarship (founded by IFDA Educational Foundation Board)
- Ruth Clark Furniture Design Scholarship (USD 3,000 per year)
- Steven A. Parascandola Art Scholarship
- Clubs Of America Scholarship Award For Career Success
- Mark P. Tiner Scholarship
- The Association for Women in Architecture Foundation (USD 2,500)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program
- Legacy Scholarship for Undergraduates (USD 4,000)
Scope and Career Opportunities
Employment areas upon graduation are enlisted below:
- Architectural Programming and Client Needs Analysis
- Commercial Interior Design
- Residential Interior Design
- Hospitality (Hotels, Casinos, Restaurants)
- Theater and Set Design
- Space Planning
- Retail (Furniture, Home Improvement)
- Sales/Manufacturer’s Representative to Building Industry
- Interior Architecture
- Furniture Design
- Lighting Design
- Colour Specialist/Consultant
- Facilities Management
- Advertising/Marketing
- Graduate School:
- Education (M.S. Ed.)
- Business (M.B.A.)
- Law (J.D.)
- Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
- Interior Design (M.S., M.F.A.)
- Architecture (M. Arch.; M.S. in Architecture)
According to Salary Explorer, this is the Interior Designing average salary by experience in the USA:
Experience |
Average Salary in USD |
0-2 years |
56,500 |
2-5 years |
71,400 |
5-10 years |
94,100 |
15-20 years |
123,000 |
20 years+ |
130,000 |
These are some of the interior designing jobs in the USA post-Bachelors:
- Commercial Interior Designer
- Corporate Interior Designer
- Display Designer
- Interior Architect
- Interior Designer
- Exhibit Designer
- Lighting Designer
- Furniture Designer
- Design Director
- Space Planner
- Exhibit Designer
- Facilities Design Manager
- Furniture Designer
- Hospitality Interior Designer