New York City is one of the world’s greatest hubs of art, media, and design, making it one of the best places for students seeking a comprehensive interior design education. The city is home to a number of leading design schools that offer students cutting-edge design training, hands-on experience, and access to the job market’s most exclusive entry points.

New York Interior Design Schools

Interior design schools provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to start a career in the multi-faceted, constantly evolving world of interior design. Because of its interdisciplinary nature, an education in interior design typically includes a broad range of subjects in both the arts and sciences.

Architecture, art history, and space design are all integral parts of design education, while courses in business and technical subjects such as environmental regulations, materials of construction, and computer-aided design are also included in many programs.

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Interior Design Degree & Certificate Options in New York

You can find a wide range of degree options in New York, including certificates, associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. This means you have multiple options for furthering your education, whether you are hoping to enter the field quickly or hope to explore the discipline of interior design in great detail.

Interior Design Certificate

An interior design certificate is perhaps the quickest way to begin working in the field. It typically takes one year or less to complete, and it may be offered as a non-credit course by some universities. Certificate programs are a narrowly focused alternative to other degree options and are specifically designed to provide students with an introduction to interior design theory and practice with a focus on building industry-relevant skills.

Interior Design Associate's Degree

An interior design associate’s degree typically takes two years to complete and prepares students for entry-level roles in the field. Associate programs provide students with an introduction to the skills required in many designer roles, including technical knowledge of materials, sustainable practices, CAD software packages, and furniture arrangement.

Interior Design Bachelor's Degree

An interior design bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. Bachelor programs provide students with a broad knowledge of the field and its practices. Students take courses in design theory and practice, space planning, 3-D rendering, construction methods, and furniture styles.

In addition to coursework specific to interior design, students will be required to complete general education requirements that provide them with a broad foundation in art, history, literature, mathematics, and other essential subjects.

Interior Design Master's Degree

A Master of Interior Design program typically takes two years to complete and is designed for students who want to elevate their understanding of the discipline. Graduates of a master’s program are prepared for roles in academics and capable of generating emergent and alternative approaches to the profession.

School Rankings

Best Interior Design Schools in New York

Our ranking of the best Interior Design schools in New York is an objective assessment of the academic performance and reputation of each qualifying school, as measured by eight weighted categories: Academic Experience, Student Selectivity, Faculty Resources, Financial Aid, Graduation Rate Performance, Early Career Success, Long-Term Graduate Success, and Value.

To qualify for this ranking list, a school must be accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and offer an interior design program at the bachelor’s or master’s degree level.

Best Colleges
Pratt Institute

200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205

4.7/5
New York School of Interior Design

170 E 70th St, New York, NY 10021

4.5/5
Parsons School of Design

66 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011

4.5/5
Fashion Institute of Technology

227 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001

4.5/5
Syracuse University

900 South Crouse Ave., Syracuse, NY 13244

4.5/5
New York Institute of Technology

1855 Broadway (at 61st Street), New York, NY 10023

4.5/5
Cornell University

616 Thurston Ave., Ithaca, NY 14853

4.5/5
School of Visual Arts

209 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010

4.4/5
Rochester Institute of Technology

One Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623

4.5/5
Marist College

3399 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

4.4/5

Interior Design major, offered in Italy.