Interior Design Major: Graduates, International Students, Colleges and Careers

Overview

Interior Design is a creative and technical profession that focuses on enhancing the interiors of buildings to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people who use the space. This discipline combines aspects of architecture, furniture design, color theory, and spatial arrangements to create functional and visually appealing spaces.

Interior designers are responsible for understanding the needs and preferences of their clients and translating them into practical designs. They work on various projects, including residential homes, commercial spaces, and public venues. The process typically involves conceptual development, space planning, site inspections, programming, and researching materials and furnishings.

Education in interior design often includes a strong foundation in design principles, drawing, and computer-aided design (CAD) software. Many programs also cover building codes, sustainability practices, and the psychological impact of space. Professional certification and licensure may be required in some regions, and designers often become members of professional organizations such as the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Interior design is not just about aesthetics; it also addresses functionality and safety. Designers must consider factors like lighting, acoustics, and ergonomics to create spaces that enhance the well-being of occupants. As trends evolve, interior designers are increasingly focusing on sustainable practices and eco-friendly materials, responding to growing environmental concerns. Overall, interior design is a dynamic field that plays a crucial role in shaping the environments where people live and work.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

3,432 02

4,124 03

5,221 04

5,588 05

6,177 06

6,970 07

7,405 08

6,970 09

6,800 10

6,541 11

6,025 12

5,863 13

5,275 14

5,087 15

4,629 16

4,554 17

4,470 18

4,456 19

4,680 20

4,712 21

4,746 22

4,458 23

4,508 24

4,642 25

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 35% and the international share went from 6.6% to 6.9%.

International share (%)

7 02

6 03

6 04

5 05

5 06

4 07

4 08

4 09

5 10

5 11

6 12

6 13

8 14

9 15

11 16

11 17

13 18

11 19

12 20

12 21

11 22

9 23

8 24

7 25

Graduates by group, 2025

White

57.8%

Asian

5.3%

Hispanic

17.9%

Black

5.1%

Other

7.0%

Intl.

6.9%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 224 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

Rank	School	State	Graduates	International
#34	University of Florida	Florida	26	3
#34	The University of Texas at Austin	Texas	30	3
#34	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Wisconsin	29	1
#44	Ohio State University-Main Campus	Ohio	18	2
#52	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	Virginia	39	0
#55	Purdue University-Main Campus	Indiana	51	3
#59	George Washington University	D.C.	30	2
#59	Florida State University	Florida	39	3
#59	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	Minnesota	31	2
#69	Michigan State University	Michigan	18	2
#80	Drexel University	Pennsylvania	28	1
#85	New Jersey Institute of Technology	New Jersey	17	1
#90	Baylor University	Texas	23	0
#90	Texas Christian University	Texas	28	2
#95	Rochester Institute of Technology	New York	21	0
#100	Auburn University	Alabama	52	0
#109	Fairfield University	Connecticut	4	0
#116	Iowa State University	Iowa	61	3
#116	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus	Oklahoma	17	0
#121	Arizona State University-Tempe	Arizona	55	2
#137	California State University--Long Beach	California	36	2
#137	San Jose State University	California	12	1
#148	University of Kentucky	Kentucky	32	2
#156	The University of Alabama	Alabama	62	0
#156	Oregon State University	Oregon	22	1
#156	Virginia Commonwealth University	Virginia	52	0
#179	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	Ohio	34	0
#186	Texas Tech University	Texas	36	1
#191	Samford University	Alabama	13	0
#191	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	Oklahoma	49	3
#191	Washington State University	Washington	33	2
#202	East Carolina University	North Carolina	24	0
#208	California State University--Fresno	California	21	1
#208	California State University-Sacramento	California	2	0
#208	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	North Carolina	31	0
#208	Belmont University	Tennessee	27	0
#208	University of North Texas	Texas	36	3
#219	Illinois State University	Illinois	32	0
#219	Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis	Indiana	2	0
#227	San Francisco State University	California	60	6
#227	Ball State University	Indiana	20	0
#227	The New School	New York	125	58
#236	North Dakota State University-Main Campus	North Dakota	19	0
#236	Kent State University at Kent	Ohio	41	0
#236	University of Texas-Arlington	Texas	20	1
#250	South Dakota State University	South Dakota	12	0
#262	Suffolk University	Massachusetts	15	0
#262	Central Michigan University	Michigan	29	0
#262	George Fox University	Oregon	10	0
#262	Seattle Pacific University	Washington	11	3
#276	Northern Arizona University	Arizona	61	0
#276	Harding University	Arkansas	13	0
#276	California Baptist University	California	10	0
#276	University of New Haven	Connecticut	12	0
#276	Western Michigan University	Michigan	7	0
#276	Marymount University	Virginia	1	0
#288	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	Illinois	8	0
#288	University of Memphis	Tennessee	2	0
#288	Texas State University	Texas	87	1
#308	Maryville University of Saint Louis	Missouri	18	1
#308	Montana State University	Montana	22	0
#308	Abilene Christian University	Texas	9	0
#308	University of the Incarnate Word	Texas	5	0
#317	Morgan State University	Maryland	15	0
#317	Ferris State University	Michigan	12	0
#317	Kean University	New Jersey	31	4
#317	Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus	Pennsylvania	24	0
#328	East Tennessee State University	Tennessee	21	0
#342	Mississippi College	Mississippi	8	1
#365	University of Central Arkansas	Arkansas	20	1
#365	Liberty University	Virginia	31	1
#376	University of Bridgeport	Connecticut	1	0
#382	Valdosta State University	Georgia	16	1
#382	Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus	Puerto Rico	7	0
LAC #119	Meredith College	North Carolina	23	0
LAC #160	Salem College	North Carolina	7	0
—	Pratt Institute-Main	New York	131	93
—	Fashion Institute of Technology	New York	114	5
—	New York School of Interior Design	New York	90	18
—	Seminole State College of Florida	Florida	88	6
—	Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design	Colorado	85	0
—	Bellevue College	Washington	61	9
—	Scottsdale Community College	Arizona	55	1
—	Interior Designers Institute	California	45	0
—	Columbia College Chicago	Illinois	40	0
—	Berkeley College-Woodland Park	New Jersey	38	3
—	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point	Wisconsin	37	0
—	University of Wisconsin-Stout	Wisconsin	36	0
—	California State University-Northridge	California	34	3
—	Weber State University	Utah	33	3
—	Cape Fear Community College	North Carolina	32	0
—	Western Carolina University	North Carolina	31	0
—	Pellissippi State Community College	Tennessee	30	0
—	Houston City College	Texas	30	6
—	Salt Lake Community College	Utah	30	1
—	Ensign College	Utah	28	2
—	Kirkwood Community College	Iowa	27	1
—	High Point University	North Carolina	27	0
—	Appalachian State University	North Carolina	26	0
—	Stephen F. Austin State University	Texas	26	1
—	Saint Louis Community College	Missouri	25	0
—	Fox Valley Technical College	Wisconsin	25	0
—	Design Institute of San Diego	California	24	2
—	Portland Community College	Oregon	24	0
—	Northern Virginia Community College	Virginia	24	3
—	Sinclair Community College	Ohio	23	2