15 Best Interior Design Schools in the World

What does it mean to be one of the best interior design schools? This is a question that will have different answers for different people. If you are a serious student of interior design, you will naturally want to attend the very best possible school. It's worth exploring to find the answer.

For most people, the best colleges for interior design are the ones that give you the best education as well as the most secure job placement. This is one of the main criteria that we looked at when compiling our list. Before we begin looking at our curated list of best interior design schools, read on to know more about what is interior design, its various types, and what are the skills needed to be an interior designer. 

What is Interior Design?

Interior design can sometimes be defined as the art of knowing how to magnify the intrinsic characteristics of a place. The purpose of doing so will be to bring out the beauty that is inherent but perhaps hidden or unrealized. There are a number of tools and techniques that can be used to realize this goal. If you're wondering how to become an interior designer, start by looking at all the job entails and how to best prepare for it, do read our complete guide on how to become an interior designer.

Up until comparatively recent years, interior design was seen as a branch of architecture. Later, it was realized that this study constitutes a whole other school that needed to be dealt with on a separate level. As a result, schools for the study of interior design as an art in itself were instituted.

Types of Interior Design

There are a number of different types of interior design that a student can choose to make the focus of their studies. For example, you may choose to make the residential interior design your specialty. If this is the case, you will largely be dealing with the task of beautifying the home of an individual.

However, you can also choose to study commercial interior design. In this case, you will be helping to organize and beautify such establishments as businesses, hospitals, sports arenas, doctor's and dentist's offices, law practices, restaurants, and the like. This is more of a civic than a personal vocation. If you want to read more on this photography genre, do read our article on the complete guide to commercial photography.

Who is an Interior Designer

An interior designer is a person who chooses to take on the task of being responsible for decorating a residential or commercial area. To be a qualified interior designer, you must complete a designated course of study. You must also obtain a degree in this field and be certified to participate in this business.

As an interior designer, you may work in a wide variety of environments. These can range from private homes to museums. You may work a particular job at a doctor's office and then move on to beautify a railroad terminal. The variation in different tasks that you may be assigned will be part of the appeal. Here is an article about the various niches within the interior design industry and the average interior design salaries.

As an aspiring interior designer, you must create a professional interior design portfolio website to showcase your work and profile. Here are some outstanding examples of design portfolio websites built on Pixpa to inspire you. Your online portfolio is the key to attract and impress potential employers, clients, or collaborators. Design portfolio websites need to go beyond just showcasing your designs. You also need to think out of the box, uncover your creative genius, find your expression and present your work in the best way possible.  

Skills Needed to Become an Interior Designer

You will need to possess a wide variety of different but interrelated skills in order to become an interior designer. Some of the most common and hotly sought after skills that you may need to focus on include:

• artistry
  
• integrity
  
• organization
  
• interpersonal skills
  
• patience
  
• color combination knowledge
  
• business acumen
  
• creativity
  

What Are the Various Interior Design Programs?

There are a number of degrees that interior design students can earn on their way to being fully certified in their field. These degrees can be listed below in the following manner:

Associate Degree

An associate degree essentially amounts to the first 2 years of a bachelor's degree program. To attain an associate degree, you will need to have 60-64 hours of study. You will also need to have a minimum CGPA of 3.0.

Bachelor Degree

A bachelor's degree amounts to 4 years of study in your interior design major at a university. During this time, you will learn a wide range of skills related to the field as well as many of the aspects related to the business end of things.

Master's Degree

After you have completed your bachelor's degree, you may well decide to go on to complete your Master's. This will usually take you about a year and a half to two full years to complete.

Doctorate

It usually takes 8 full years of study to complete your Doctorate. Holding a degree of this magnitude allows you the privilege of being known socially as a "Doctor," although not many interior design majors tend to require it. In any case, a Doctorate degree guarantees you a job pretty much anywhere in the world.

Certificate Programs

If you don't have the time, energy, patience, or money to go for your Doctorate, you can complete a number of qualified certificate programs. These will usually require you to fulfill an average of two years of studies. Keep in mind that you will also need to complete up to 60 hours of classes.

The Best 15 Interior Design Schools in the World

What follows is a quick and informative rundown of the educational institutions that we believe to be the best interior design schools in the world. These schools meet quality standards of interior design education and offer courses that address the requirements and preferences of students from varied disciplines.

• Stanford University
• Chelsea School of Arts
• Purdue University
• Rhode Island School of Design
• New York School of Interior Design
• Visual College of Art and Design
• Taylor University
• Pratt Institute
• Auburn University
• Savannah College of Art and Design
• Marywood University
• Interior Design School, London
• Salem College
• Florence Design Academy
• Converse College

1. Stanford University

Since its founding in 1885, Stanford University has been one of the finest schools to get a top-level interior design education. The complex consists of 40 academic departments along with 4 professional schools devoted to graduate programs. The total cost of tuition is $70,476 per year so be sure to save your pennies if you want to graduate here.

2. Chelsea School of Arts

If you live in England or want to go to school there, the Chelsea School of Arts may be right up your alley. The school specializes in graphic design, spatial and textile design. You can earn your degree up to the graduate level in any of these fields. The cost of tuition is around $31681.17 per annum.

3. Purdue University

Located in Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue University is one of the premier places to get a state-of-the-art interior design degree. The school offers courses for undergraduate, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. There is a total of over 200 majors for a student to choose from. The total cost of your tuition at Purdue will average $45,784 per annum.

4. Rhode Island School of Design

One of the most prestigious schools for interior design majors to attend will be the Rhode Island School of Design. With a graduation rate of over 87 percent, it's safe to say that interior design students will get their money's worth. The school has long been listed by experts as one of the best colleges for interior design. Tuition is $72,780 per year.

5. New York School of Interior Design

When it comes to excellence in education, you can't argue the credentials of the New York School of Interior Design. Since first being established a century ago in 1916, the institution has consistently ranked among the top 5 interior design schools in the country. Programs offered by the school can run from Bachelor or Masters down to a Doctorate. Tuition is listed as $1,060 per credit.

6. Visual College of Art & Design

The Visual College of Art & Design is one of the finest places to study interior design in the nation of Canada. You can study such programs as graphic design, fashion, and many more. The school offers degrees ranging from interior design to animation to many more. The total cost of tuition will be $41,895 per year.

7. Taylor University

Located in Upland, Indiana, Taylor University has managed to garner a reputation as one of the best interior design schools in the US. It's also known as one of the oldest evangelical colleges in the nation. The school offers a wide variety of degrees going up to the undergraduate level. The total fee for tuition is a sweet $34,114 per year.

8. Pratt Institute

Located in the city of Brooklyn in New York, the Pratt Institute has long been hailed as one of the best colleges for interior design students to attend. Tuition to attend the school has been listed at a sum of $51,754 per year. The school features a series of programs such as the Department of Foundation Art, Art and Design Education, and Department of Design Management.

9. Auburn University

Located in the state of Alabama, Auburn University has become a contender for one of the best interior design schools in the country. It is the second-largest university in Alabama. The school offers a wide range of programs that encompass undergraduate as well as graduate degrees. The total fee for tuition will be $45,625 per year.

10. Savannah College of Art and Design

One of the most interesting schools for interior design that you can attend in the south of the nation will be the Savannah College of Art and Design. This college offers a wide range of degrees that you can use to jump-start your career in the interior design industry. The school is listed as a nonprofit but tuition costs are $37,575 per year.

11. Marywood University

A quick search on Google using the search phrase "best interior design schools in the US" may well turn up the name of Marywood University This quaintly named college has been making a name for itself as one of the most influential schools for interior design in the past few decades. The total cost of tuition to attend the school and see for yourself will be $52,462 per year.

12. Interior Design School, London

Yet another top-tier school for interior design majors to attend will be the Interior Design School, London. Tuition may well be on the ultra-pricey side, which is why most sites list it as N/A. The school has long been ranked as one of the most vibrant and multicultural in the country. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

13. Salem College

If you are creative and have a passion for interior design  Salem College may prove to be your best bet. Tuition at the college has been listed as $42,266 per year. It offers students a wide range of graduate programs.

14. Florence Design Academy

The Florence Design Academy is located in the gorgeous heart of Tuscany in the fabled land of Italy. If you want to learn your interior design skills at the feet of the old masters, this will be the place to go. The school offers a vast range of graduate programs for you to choose from. Tuition to attend the school is listed at $664-1,340 per month.

15. Converse College

Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina is the nationally famous Converse College. This school features an Arts & Design department that has graduated a number of globally renowned interior design students. Tuition to attend the college has been listed as $21,820 per year. If you want to study interior design on a budget, this may be your best bet.

It's Time to Start Your Interior Design Career

Now that you have the info you need about how to become an interior designer, it's time for you to make your decision. This is a career that takes a great deal of aptitude, dedication, patience, and hard work. The skills that you will come away with at the end can be the key to a long, fruitful, and lucrative career.

Whether you work on your own or with a company, being an interior designer is a challenging but always rewarding job. You'll learn skills that you can take with you to every new position that you occupy. There will always be a job opening with great prospects for a professional in this continually evolving field.

Create an Online Portfolio

After completion of your interior design course, you usually spend a few years as an apprentice or in an internship. Most of these positions are entry-level, with the goal of providing you more learning opportunities, along with the chance to keep adding to your portfolio.

Remember, this is the time you need to network with people in the interior design field. Most beginner interior designers spend this time working at a design firm, at a home remodeling center, or apprentice with a mentor. This will not only help in connecting with like-minded professionals but will also help you create a great online portfolio.

Even if you don't have an outstanding portfolio, feature interior design projects to help you get noticed online. Your interior design portfolio website needs to go beyond just showcasing your design work. You need to find your creative expression and think of out-of-the-box ways in which you can showcase your portfolio in the best way possible. Your professional online portfolio reflects your design style and area expertise, so it is important that you keep it up to date with recent projects. Change your site design, showcase new work, and tell new stories. Here is an article with tips on how to take aesthetic pictures, to showcase your style and "look" to the places you visit or the products you use. 

Make sure that the portfolio website builder you choose offers the flexibility, features, and ease of use you need to put together a professional website without requiring any coding knowledge.  That's where a bit of inspiration comes in handy. 

Pixpa offers an easy yet powerful drag-and-drop website builder and includes Client galleries, eCommerce, and blogging tools to enable you to manage your complete online presence through one seamless platform. Explore all features that make Pixpa the perfect choice for designers and other creative professionals. 

Your portfolio will give viewers an idea of your aesthetic and your style as an interior designer. Add your biography and contact information, so that interested people can contact you. Here is a Complete Guide on how to build your portfolio website to give you insightful tips on how to build yours. On the lookout for some inspiration? We have rounded up a list of the best interior design portfolio websites built on Pixpa, to help you get the creativity flowing!