2026 Best Value Interior Design Schools in Tennessee
[Interior Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/interior-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value interior design schools.
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2026 Best Value Interior Design Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in interior design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Interior Design Schools
Our analysis ranked Pellissippi State Community College the best value for a degree in interior design in Tennessee. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,770. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $43,816 early in their careers. Set against $8,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middle Tennessee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in interior design, landing the #2 spot this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $22,754. Early-career interior design graduates make about $38,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Students looking for strong value in interior design will find it at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, which ranked #3. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $25,000. Early-career interior design graduates make about $41,968. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes East Tennessee State University one of the best values for interior design. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the interior design program here. Early-career interior design graduates make about $34,177. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the best values for interior design. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. Set against $22,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Belmont University placed #6 among the best values for interior design. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $28,702. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
