Top Interior Design Schools in the US

Design – At Bauhaus2YourHouse, we understand that interior designers don’t suddenly appear as fully-fledged artists, nor do they just organically emerge as cable reality show hosts. Many of the designers showcased on our site are graduates of prestigious design schools, including the legendary Bauhaus, founded by Walter Gropius. Though Bauhaus operated from 1919 to 1933, its legacy lives on in the fields of architecture, interior design, and more. This is the hallmark of any great educational institution—it nurtures and develops talent, guiding students to enhance (and sometimes revolutionize) their chosen fields.

While Bauhaus no longer exists, its spirit thrives in various modern-day institutions. Here are some of the top interior design schools in the US that continue to cultivate creativity and expertise in the field:

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New York School of Interior Design: The New York School of Interior Design is the only school on this list that specializes solely in interior design education. It’s also a top-ranked grad school for interior design, which indicates strong faculty, networking, and post-grad opportunities. Graduates of this institution have impressive career prospects—98% of students find jobs within six months of earning their degrees. If you aren’t sure whether you want to commit to a full degree program, or if you don’t yet feel prepared to apply to an interior design program, you can also enroll in one of the school’s non-degree certificate programs to build your portfolio.

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    Pratt Institute: If you’re hoping to get a job directly after graduation, then the Pratt Institute is an excellent option. In 2019, 94% of graduates (who responded to the survey) found jobs within a year of graduation. The Pratt Institute boasts a top-rated graduate program for interior design, ensuring that students are well-prepared for their careers.

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    Parsons School of Design (The New School): The Parsons School of Design, one of five colleges at The New School, boasts well-developed networks in commerce and industry. This school might be a particularly good option for those who wish to pursue commercial design. Parsons places a special focus on collaborative work, offering opportunities to complete group projects with students from different degree programs. This type of collaboration is vital in preparing you for a career in design.

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    Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): One of the most famous and well-ranked arts and design schools in the US, RISD is located in Providence, a city with one of the highest concentrations of artists in the country. The interior design major is known as “interior studies” or “interior architecture” at RISD. The school is well-known for its practical instruction and coursework. If you’re interested in eventually going to grad school, RISD also has a highly ranked program through which you can earn an MA degree in interior design.

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    Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): SCAD is ranked highly across the board for all its art and design programs, ensuring you’ll have access to other artistic and creative resources on campus. While the main campus is in Savannah, SCAD also has interior design programs in Atlanta and Hong Kong, as well as online. This variety of locations offers more opportunities for internships in metropolitan areas and the chance to study abroad.

    The art of interior design thrives in the above institutions, aided by technology. Although Bauhaus no longer exists, its legacy endures in the pieces created in the halls of these top interior design schools. Its students may eventually go on to design pieces of furniture as enduring and influential as the Sapiens Bookcase By Bruno Rainaldi or Marcel Breuer Cecsa Cane Armchair. Explore learn more about these iconic pieces and how they can elevate your home décor.