10 Best Interior Design Schools in the World 2025

What is Interior Design?

A multifarious field, interior design is the art of improving the aesthetics of a building by working on its colour combination, lighting, decoration, patterns, and design, and creating functional spaces in order to make it visually appealing. An interior designer discusses the requirements of his/her client and works accordingly. 

Also Read: Diploma in Interior Design in Abroad

Who is an Interior Designer?

An interior designer is a person who holds expertise in interior design. He/she works closely with contractors and architects in order to create a blueprint for the client's needs and execute the plan in accordance with the client's needs and objectives.

Top 10 Interior Design Schools in the World

Check out in detail about some of the best interior design schools in the world for studying abroad:

Pratt Institute, New York

Located in New York, the interior design capital of the United States, Pratt Institute is a private university offering programs in Architecture, Design and Liberal Arts. The undergraduate (B.F.A.) and graduate (M.F.A.) degrees in Interior Design are offered by Pratt’s School of Design. Pratt’s Interior Design programs at all levels have been ranked among the top 5 in the United States and the top 10 in the world for several years by various professional surveys such as DesignIntelligence, Domus, QS World University Rankings and more. The Interior Design programs are architecturally oriented programs where students can learn all aspects of interior design – space, light source, materials, textures, colours, proportion, environmental responsibility, human environment, culture and more. Stimulating studios and design projects with the industry are part of the programs. The application process to Pratt is online; interested students must check the school website for the overall admission requirements before applying to the institute, which is among the best colleges for interior design.

Highlights

• The institute has 5,137 graduate and undergraduate students enrolled on 48 courses.
• In 2023, 99% of the batch got employed or opted to study further within 12 months of passing out.
• 90% of the students stated that their job was related to their field of study.
• Graduates were employed in organisations such as Carhartt, DreamWorks, HBO, Perkins Eastman, Dior, IBM, Penguin Random House, Peacock, Hasbro, etc.

Also Read: Bachelors of Interior Design in UK

Savannah College of Art and Design

Founded in 1978, the Savannah College of Art and Design or SCAD, is a private art school located in Savannah, Atlanta, and Hong Kong. Recognised as one of the best design schools in the world, it also provides study-abroad opportunities in Lacoste, France, and online programs. SCAD offers BFA, MA and MFA degrees in Interior Design, designed to impart critical thinking, collaborative teamwork, communication, and ethics and additionally teach aspiring designers to create designs keeping environmental, social and global design practice in mind. You can choose multiple majors suiting your needs – Furniture Design, Urban Design, and Themed entertainment design, to name a few. The application process for enrollment into SCAD is online; interested students must check the school website, select the enrollment type and apply accordingly.

Highlights

• Over 15,000 students from 50 states and over 100 nations are studying at the university
• The college has over 1,800 staff members and faculty.
• SCAD’s UG and PG interior design courses have obtained more number 1 ranks than any other institute and have featured among the top lot in DesignIntelligence’s ‘Best Architecture and Design Schools’ for the 7^th time since 2008.
• The faculty-to-student ratio stands at 1:20.
• In Spring 2020, 99% pass-outs pass outs obtained a job, opted for higher education or were into both within 10 months of passing out.
• Employers include Adidas, Adobe, Conde Nast, Google, Hallmark, L’Oreal, Microsoft, Netflix, Ogilvy, The Home Depot, Starbucks, Amazon, etc.

Check: Popular Vocational courses in Canada

Rhode Island School of Design

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is one of the first Art and Design schools in the United States and among the consistently top-ranking schools in the world. The school, located in Providence, Rhode Island, offers full-time bachelor's and master's degrees in over 21 majors. Established in 1877, it is a private institute which offers programmes in Interior Design, including BFA and MA/MDes in Interior Architecture, BFA and MFA in Furniture Design. Programs are known to be rigorous and include hands-on learning and studio-based learning. The school also offers a number of short-term and certificate programs for candidates of all ages. RISD’s executive education is one of its kind, offering customised programs and workshops for experienced professionals. Many alumni of RISD have gone on to become celebrity designers in their own fields. Admissions into RISD can be very selective; interested students must go through the application requirements and prepare a well-rounded application package.

Highlights

• At present (2022-2023), a total of 2,621 students are enrolled here.
• A total of 2109 students are pursuing undergraduate studies (2022-2023), and 512 students are in graduate courses.
• The student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1.

Also Read: Top Interior Design Universities and Colleges in Germany

Parsons School of Design, The New School

Incepted in 1896, Parsons School of Design is a private college with scholars, practitioners and world-famous artists among its faculty. It has been recognised as the best-ranking design school in the US and is featured among the top three design institutes internationally. It has an international population of 46%. Also, 64% of its students are from outside New York State, and 28% are from in-state. Student-to-faculty ratio at the college is 10:1, and it has 160 full-time and 1,200 part-time faculty taking care of its undergraduate and graduate lot.

Highlights

• In QS, 2022, the college obtained the top rank in the nation for its art and design school.
• According to PayScale, the college obtained the first spot as a top art and design school for alumni salary in the country in 2020.
• In 2020-2021, 82% of the students obtained institutional financial help.
• The college has 5,700 students pursuing various undergraduate and graduate courses.

Also Read: Bachelors of Interior Design in USA

New York School of Interior Design, New York

New York School of Interior Design is a private, not-for-profit college for interior design studies, which was founded in 1916. The school’s top-ranking and unique interior design programs include BFA in Interior Design, MFA in Interior Design, MPS in Healthcare Interior Design, MPS in Lighting Design, and MPS in Sustainable Interior Environments. The school also offers a Basic Interior Design Certificate Program and an Associate in Applied Science in Interior Design course for those without any prior background in this field. The school has a record job placement rate of 98% UG and 100% graduate students having employment or pursuing further studies six months after graduation during 2016-2017. It is a truly international school with students from over 55 countries. Interested applicants can check the school website for the online application procedure.

Highlights

• The average age of the students studying at the institute is 30.6 years.
• The student-to-faculty ratio stands at 12:1.
• The institute has a total of 102 faculty members.
• 16% of the students at the institute are from overseas, representing 31 nations.
• The average class size stands at 12.

Check: Can students apply for studying abroad on their own?

Visual College of Art & Design, Vancouver

Visual College of Art & Design (VCAD) Visual College of Art & Design, Vancouver, also known as the Vancouver College of Art & Design, is a career college in Canada offering industry-oriented diploma programs leading to successful career outcomes. The college offers programs ranging from Architecture, Game Development, to Interior Design. Interior Design aspirants can choose from VCAD’s normal Interior Design diploma program or Interior Design with a Co-op option. The Co-op diploma program allows students to work in a real-world environment and enhance their skills and knowledge. The college recommends aspiring candidates get in touch with one of their admission representatives to understand the admission and program details in-depth. You can also discuss your career goals and aspirations with the admission representative, who can help you choose the right program.

Cornell University

Set up in 1895, Cornell University is a private institution and has 16 colleges and schools affiliated with it. In the year 2021, it had a total staff of 7,656 and a total of 1,729 faculty members. In the year 2022, the university had a total of 15,735 undergraduate students, 7,256 graduate students, and 2,907 professionals. 10% of the undergraduate and 53% of the graduate students were from overseas. The institute awarded the world’s 1^st degree in journalism and the country’s 1^st degree in veterinary medicine.

Highlights

• It was the first university in the U.S. which offer a major in American Studies.
• It has 50 Nobel Prize recipients as faculty members as well as alumni.
• The university offers an M.A. in Design, the duration of which is two years.
• Design Concentrations offered include Design for Interaction, Emerging Technology for Design, Design Health, and Sustainable Design Studies.

Drexel University

Set up in Philadelphia in 1891, Drexel University is a comprehensive global R1-level research institute which is known for its online degree courses. It is recognised among the top 100 institutes in the country, and its cooperative education programme is well-renowned around the world. The institute obtained a spot among the top 60 private universities in the U.S. as per U.S. News & World Report. It has also been recognised as one of the top 40 Comprehensive Research Universities in the United States by the Department of Education in 2022. Also, after one year of graduation, the average full-time annual salary of a graduate has been recorded as $64,774.

Highlights

• The university has a total student population of 22,344.
• A total of 13,977 students are pursuing undergraduate studies, whereas 8,367 are in graduate and professional courses.
• A total of 4,029 students are pursuing their education online.
• The university offers more than 200 degree courses.

Check: What are Academic Transcripts and How to get them?

Dublin Institute of Design, Dublin

Founded in 1993, Ireland’s Dublin Institute of Design (DID) is another top-ranking design school in Europe and the world. The institute offers cutting-edge programs in Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Interior & CAD Design, and UX Design & Front-End Development courses. Ireland's oldest independent design institute, the school offers a number of interior design courses from a Higher National Diploma to a BA. In addition, short courses in Interior Design skills and CAD are also offered, which can range from 6 to 10 weeks. DID is also the longest-established private higher education college for specialised design in the Republic of Ireland.

The Interior Design School, London

The Interior Design School in London, which specialises solely in imparting interior design education and practice, is among the world’s best-known interior design schools. The school offers a series of programs ranging from a Professional Diploma in Interior Design and a Diploma in Residential Design to part-time evening courses, each course designed for individuals with diverse requirements and backgrounds. The school not only offer courses which can qualify you to be an Interior Designer but is also designed for individuals who wish to gain specific knowledge and further develop their personal spaces. Programmes are taught by practising designers and specialists. Students can fill up the online application form on the Institute's website to apply for a specific course.

In addition to the top ten schools listed above, other prestigious schools for Interior Design around the world include:

• Interior Designers Institute, California
• Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London
• Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
• Académie Grandes Terres, Paris
• Crèapole École de Création Management, France
• Parsons School for Design, USA
• University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
• Billy Blue College of Design, Australia