by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 231 U.S. colleges awarded 5,801 degrees and certificates in Interior Design. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 175 schools in its 2027 Best Interior Design Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing, rising to $50,151 after four years.
A major in Interior Design explores Interior Design. A Program In The Applied Visual Arts That Prepares Individuals To Apply Artistic Principles And Techniques To The Professional Planning, Designing, Equipping, And Furnishing Of Residential And Commercial Interior Spaces. Includes Instruction In Computer Applications, Drafting, And Graphic Techniques; Principles Of Interior Lighting, Acoustics, Systems Integration, And Color Coordination; Furniture And Furnishings; Textiles And Their Finishing; The History Of Interior Design And Period Styles; Basic Structural Design; Building Codes And Inspection Regulations; And Applications To Office, Hotel, Factory, Restaurant And Housing Design.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, interior design is a popular field of study, with 5,801 degrees awarded annually. 231 colleges award interior design degrees, an average of 25 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 139.
By level, the 5,801 awards include 423 certificates, 1,541 associate degrees, 2,924 bachelor’s degrees and 913 master’s degrees.
Women earned 92% of interior design degrees and certificates in the latest year (5,326 of 5,801). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,289) and Hispanic or Latino (1,100), and international students earned 382.
College Factual ranks 175 schools in its 2027 Best Interior Design Schools ranking, including 73 for associate degrees, 96 for bachelor’s degrees and 12 for master’s degrees. It also ranks interior design schools within 36 states. In all, 231 colleges offer interior design programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Interior Design Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common interior design credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,924 of the 5,801 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to interior design call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Design, Building and Construction and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an interior design degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 423 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,541 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,924 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 913 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to interior design, at 35.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 31.2% |
| First professional degree | 15.4% |
| Master’s degree | 8.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.7% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Interior Design, with an average median salary of $61,309; the strongest outlook belongs to Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary, at 11.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Interior Design Faculty Member, Architecture Faculty Member, Architectural Drafting Instructor and Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to interior design, at 489,715.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 489,715 | 11.8% |
| Interior Designers | 186,151 | -1.3% |
Interior Design graduates earn a median $32,258 one year after completing their program, $50,151 after four years and $47,460 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,258 |
| 4 years | $50,151 |
| 5 years | $47,460 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to interior design, with a median salary of $66,757.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,757 |
| Interior Designers | $55,861 |
Interior Design has 9 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 34,105 degrees a year; the largest are Graphic Design (10,828), Design and Visual Communications, General (6,817) and Fashion/Apparel Design (3,254). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 10,828 |
| Design and Visual Communications, General | 6,817 |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 3,254 |
| Illustration | 3,183 |
| Commercial and Advertising Art | 3,106 |
| Game and Interactive Media Design | 2,975 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other | 1,743 |
| Industrial and Product Design | 1,433 |
| Commercial Photography | 766 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
