Interior Design major
Interior Design: courses, careers, and where to study
Interior Design combines spatial planning, materials, and building codes with studio drawing and CAD, preparing graduates to design functional, safe interiors for homes, offices, and public spaces.
An Interior Design major, typically a four-year bachelor's degree, covers space planning, color and materials, lighting, furniture, building and accessibility codes, construction documents, and the history of interiors and architecture. Most programs are studio-intensive: students move through a sequence of design studios, learn drafting and CAD/BIM tools, and assemble a portfolio. Coursework usually includes building systems, environmental and sustainable design, and a professional-practice course covering contracts, budgets, and working with contractors.
Graduates plan and document interior environments for residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and institutional clients, balancing aesthetics with code compliance, accessibility, and how people use a space. Day-to-day work spans client meetings, drawings and specifications, materials and furniture selection, and coordination with architects and contractors through construction. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of interior designers to grow 3.2% from 2024 to 2034.
The field is closely related to architecture and graphic design, and many students pair the major with coursework in construction or environmental design. Per the BLS, the 2024 median annual wage for interior designers was $63,490, with earnings varying by specialty, employer, and location.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Interior Design maps to CIP 50.0408, Interior Design, within the VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS family. The official definition:
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to apply artistic principles and techniques to the professional planning, designing, equipping, and furnishing of residential and commercial interior spaces. Includes instruction in computer applications, drafting, and graphic techniques; principles of interior lighting, acoustics, systems integration, and color coordination; furniture and furnishings; textiles and their finishing; the history of interior design and period styles; basic structural design; building codes and inspection regulations; and applications to office, hotel, factory, restaurant and housing design.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What you'll study
- Space planning and programming for residential and commercial interiors
- Hand drafting, sketching, and CAD/BIM tools (e.g. AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp)
- Color theory, materials, finishes, and textiles selection
- Lighting design and building systems (HVAC, electrical, acoustics)
- Building, life-safety, and accessibility codes (including ADA requirements)
- Construction documents, specifications, and detailing
- History of interiors, furniture, and architecture
- Professional practice: contracts, budgets, and project coordination, plus a portfolio capstone
Typical careers
- Interior designers
- Commercial Interior Designer
- Residential Interior Designer
- Kitchen and Bath Designer
- Space Planner
- Furniture / Set Designer
Typical salary range: BLS, 2024 interior designers median $63,490 (varies by specialty, employer, and location)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Before you commit to a Interior Design major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Interior Design program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Interior Design department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Interior Design program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Interior Design programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Interior Design by state
Related majors
Architecture
Architecture combines design, structural reasoning, and building systems to plan habitable spaces, suiting students who pair creative drawing with technical problem-solving.
Graphic Design
Graphic Design teaches students to communicate ideas visually through typography, layout, and imagery, suiting people who want to combine creativity with craft across print and digital media.
Construction Management
Construction Management blends building science, project planning, and business to prepare graduates to plan, budget, and oversee construction projects from groundbreaking to handover.
Environmental Science
Environmental Science combines biology, chemistry, geology, and policy to address climate, conservation, water, and pollution challenges.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.