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Top 10 Interior Design Colleges In USA

Top 10 Interior Design Colleges In USA: While a formal education is not an absolute must, most interior design firms require designers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree provides a more robust body of courses relating to the aesthetic, technical, and business talents needed to be a well-rounded interior designer. The first step towards choosing a top interior design program is to ensure it has the proper accreditation. Programs accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) voluntarily place themselves before the scrutiny of Council volunteers to ensure that students receive an education that will serve them as students and prepare them for future professional growth.

Top 10 Interior Design Colleges In USA

In this article, we are going to discuss the top 10 interior design colleges in the USA. This list has categorized these colleges based on their behavioral, technological, environmental, and aesthetic aspects of interior design and many more details. Here below is the list of the top 10 interior design colleges in the USA.

No.1 Cornell University, Ithaca

Cornell is the only Ivy League school offering an interior design program, making it competitive and rigorous. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, their Design and Environment Analysis program provide students with hands-on experiences in research and innovation, with a special focus on the impact of design on the environment. The curriculum is organized to focus on three fields: Design Strategy, Sustainable Futures, and Health and Wellbeing. When we asked Cornell Graduate and Ivy Designer, Lucie Macelova Ayres about the most important thing she learned from Cornell, she shared, “Project Management – the BEST!

Official Website – https://www.cornell.edu/

No.2 Fashion Institute Of Technology, New York

FIT has consistently amassed international acclaim and recognition for its fashion, design, art, communications, and business programs. FIT‘s Interior Design program has been preparing students for success for more than 50 years. This rigorous, multidisciplinary program combines the academic study of the history and theory of interior design with practical, hands-on projects. Over the years, the school has reached #7 in Design School Hubs and #8 by Design Intelligence. Its rigorous curriculum is steeped in its commitment to research, experiential learning, adaptable academics, and industry partnerships.

No.3 Parsons The New School For Design, New York

Established in 1906, The New School offers over 25 programs, including a B.F.A in Interior Design, B.F.A. in Design and Technology, B.S. in Urban Design, and M.F.A. in Interior Design. Students have access to NYC’s major firms and showrooms, as well as the exclusivity of connections from one of the best and oldest interior design schools. Ranking #5 by Design Intelligence and Design Schools Hub, The New School for Design boasts some well-developed networks in commerce and industry, so this school may be a perfect option for students who wish to pursue commercial design.

No.4 University of Cincinnati in Ohio

According to Design Intelligence, the Interior Design program is number four in the nation for 2017-2018 and is consistently in the top 10 from year to year. The School of Architecture and Interior Design at the University of Cincinnati offers a 5-year program emphasizing clients and customers’ physical, psychological, and social needs, culminating in a capstone project, which provides students with hands-on practical experiences. 92% of students have been employed within 3 months of graduating (71% with starting salaries higher than $40,000 a year) and can resolve problems, think critically, and use cutting-edge technologies in the field.

No.5 New York School Of Interior Design, New York

NYSID is a specialist interior design school founded in 1916. The school’s focus on interior design has enabled it to provide some of the most in-depth and creative education available in the United States to its 600 undergraduate and graduate students. NYSID’s graduate programs are ranked #4 in the nation, and their undergraduate programs are ranked #5 in the nation for 2016. 92% of students from undergraduate programs gained employment within 6 months of completing their studies, and the rate for postgraduate programs was 94%. The school has strong alumni and professional network that students can draw on to enhance their career prospects.

No.6 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence

The Rhode Island School Of Design(RISD) is one of the country’s more famous and well-ranked design schools. It has been ranked #4 by Design Intelligence and #3 by Design Schools Hub. The school refers to its interior design program as “Interior Studies” majors at the undergraduate level. At this level, the student chooses three specializations or “pathways” through advanced design studios, focusing on design for the theater, exhibition design, or retail design. RISD has one of the highest concentrations of artists in the country, making its interior design program well-known, especially for its practical instruction and coursework.

No.7 Pratt Institute, New York

This interior design school operates from its main Brooklyn campus (PI also has a Manhattan campus), where it has maintained its reputation for both its program’s creative flexibility and practical rigor. Since 2008, the professional survey, Design Intelligence, has ranked the undergraduate program number two in the country. The interior design program is an architecturally oriented program with an emphasis on spatial design and surface embellishment. All aspects of space—scale, proportion, configuration, light source, and textures, materials, and color—are studied about their effect on the human spirit.

No.8 Savannah College Of Art and Design, Savannah

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is ranked highly across the board (#1 by Design Intelligence, #1 by Design Schools Hub) for all its art and design programs. The main campus is located in Savannah, GA, but SCAD also has interior design programs based in Atlanta, Hong Kong, and Lacoste (France). These other program locations mean greater opportunities to get internships in metropolitan areas or opportunities to study abroad! The SCAD Collaborative Learning Center, or CLC, partners with top businesses, brands, and organizations to generate design-based concepts and solutions for experiences, products, media, and technology.

No.9 Syracuse University, Syracuse

Emphasis is on self-discovery in visual art and design, risk-taking, and critical thought. Syracuse’s program is called “Environmental and Interior Design,” which is a bit broader than most other programs on this list. At Syracuse, interior design students get a liberal arts education + studio courses in fine arts and crafts to supplement their main course of study. This program may be a good option for students who want to focus on design and want parts of a more standard liberal arts experience. Ranked as high as #9 by Design School Hubs, Syracuse University’s design programs are housed in The Nancy Cantor Warehouse, located in downtown Syracuse.

No.10 Drexel University, Philadelphia

Drexel’s interior design program combines interior design with the study of art and art history. Students explore the behavioral, technological, environmental, and aesthetic aspects of interior design within the context of complex design projects.  Combined with Art and Art History and general education requirements, a core of interior design courses creates a unique education at the forefront of design. Drexel’s Westphal College offers an impressive range of degree options; 19 in the undergraduate program alone. Building on a solid foundation of visual studies, Westphal inspires a sense of experimentation and expansion of visual horizons.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q- Which school is best for interior design in the USA?

A- Cornell University is the best interior design college in the USA.

Q- Which state is the best for interior design studies?

A- New york city is the best state for the study of interior design in the USA.

Q- Is Studying Interior Design worth it?

A- Interior design can be a great career choice if you follow certain steps, including gaining appropriate education and a solid portfolio. Pay can also vary, but the median salary for interior designers is $47,188. In short, any career that you love is a good career.

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