9 Best Interior Design Schools in Atlanta, GA

About the School

Savannah College of Art and Design, usually called SCAD, is a private art and design university with a campus in Atlanta.

It is one of the strongest options in the city for students who want a full interior design education inside a professional art and design school environment.

SCAD is a better fit for students who want a traditional college experience, intensive studio courses, portfolio development, and access to a larger creative community.

Programs Offered

SCAD offers interior design programs at the Atlanta and Savannah campuses.

Students can study interior design through bachelor’s and graduate-level options, with coursework in space planning, design theory, lighting, materials, finishes, furniture, building systems, digital communication, presentation methods, and professional practice.

The program is especially useful for students who want a studio-heavy education.

Students should expect design projects, critiques, digital design work, and portfolio preparation.

Software and visual communication are also important parts of the program, including tools used for drafting, rendering, presentation boards, and design documentation.

Tuition and Cost

SCAD is a private university, so tuition is much higher than that of Georgia public technical colleges.

Undergraduate tuition can be around $40,000 per year before housing, meals, books, supplies, and fees.

Students should also budget for studio materials, printing, model-making supplies, a strong laptop, software, and portfolio costs, which may add about $1,000 to $3,000 per year.

Program Length

The bachelor’s degree is usually 4 years.

Graduate programs may take about 1 to 2 years, depending on the degree and course load.

About the School

Georgia State University is a large public university located in downtown Atlanta.

The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design offers a strong option for students who want a public university setting and a full bachelor’s degree in interior design.

This can be a good fit for students who want an urban campus, a broader university experience, and access to Atlanta’s design, architecture, hospitality, commercial, and residential interiors market.

Programs Offered

Georgia State offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design.

The program includes design studio work, drawing, color, materials, space planning, lighting, building systems, design history, construction documents, codes, and professional practice. Students also develop visual communication and portfolio skills.

This is a more comprehensive route than a short decorating certificate.

It is intended for students who want deeper preparation in interior environments, not just surface decoration.

Students interested in professional certification should ask the department how the program supports NCIDQ exam preparation and Georgia’s requirements for registered interior designers.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, Georgia State costs depend on residency, fees, course load, and living arrangements.

In-state students usually pay much less than out-of-state students.

A full-time in-state undergraduate should expect tuition and fees to cost several thousand dollars per semester.

Books, supplies, laptop requirements, software, printing, and portfolio materials may add about $1,000 to $2,500 per year.

Program Length

The BFA is usually a 4-year degree for full-time students.

About the School

Gwinnett Technical College is a public technical college located in Lawrenceville, northeast of Atlanta.

It is one of the most practical options near Atlanta for students who want an affordable interior design program without committing immediately to a private design university.

It can be a good fit for students who want hands-on training, technical skills, and a career-focused program.

Programs Offered

Gwinnett Tech offers an Interiors program with coursework in design principles, textiles, history of architecture and furniture, drafting, perspective drawing, lighting, AutoCAD, Revit, codes, materials, business practices, and internship experience.

The program is useful for students who want to learn both the creative and technical sides of interior design.

Gwinnett Tech also offers related drafting and CAD programs.

These can be helpful for students who want stronger technical drawing, floor plan, and computer-aided design skills.

Tuition and Cost

Gwinnett Technical College tuition is generally more affordable than private school tuition.

In-state tuition for technical college students is often around $100 per credit before fees.

A 60-credit associate degree may cost about $6,000 to $8,000 in tuition and fees before books and supplies.

Students should also budget about $500 to $2,000 for design supplies, software access, printing, textbooks, and portfolio materials.

Program Length

Associate degree programs usually take about 2 years full-time.

Diploma or certificate options may take about 1 year, depending on the pathway.

About the School

Atlanta Technical College is a public technical college located in Atlanta.

While it is not mainly known as a traditional interior design school, it is a useful option for students who want drafting, CAD, and technical design skills that can support work in interiors, architecture, construction, or design documentation.

Programs Offered

Atlanta Technical College offers Drafting Technology programs, including a diploma, an associate degree, and shorter certificate options.

Students can study CAD, drafting, technical drawing, construction documents, and design communication.

These skills are relevant for interior design students who want to learn how to read and create floor plans, elevations, details, and project drawings.

This route is best for students who are more interested in the technical side of design rather than decorating, furniture selection, or color consulting.

It may also be useful for students who want entry-level CAD skills before moving into interior design, architecture, or construction-related work.

Tuition and Cost

Atlanta Technical College’s Drafting Technology diploma has an estimated cost of around $6,700, depending on the catalog year, fees, and course requirements.

Shorter CAD certificates may cost less.

Students should also budget for textbooks, supplies, technology fees, and computer or software needs, which may add about $500 to $1,500.

Program Length

The Drafting Technology diploma is commonly around 4 terms and about 49 credit hours.

Associate degree options usually take about 2 years.

About the School

Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a public technical college with campuses in the Atlanta metro area, including Clarkston and other nearby locations.

It is a good option for students who live east of Atlanta and want affordable technical training in drafting, CAD, or residential building design.

Programs Offered

Georgia Piedmont offers Drafting Technology programs, including associate degree and diploma options.

Students can study CAD fundamentals, 2D and 3D drafting, technical drawing, construction documentation, and design support skills.

The school also offers residential building design-related study, which can be useful for students interested in home design, floor plans, construction drawings, and residential space planning.

This is not the same as a full interior design studio degree, but it is closely related for students who want technical design skills.

It can help beginners understand how interior spaces connect to building plans, structure, and construction documents.

Tuition and Cost

Technical college tuition in Georgia is usually much lower than private college tuition.

Students may pay roughly $100 per credit before fees, with total tuition for a certificate or diploma often ranging from about $2,000 to $7,000, depending on the program.

Books, software, drafting materials, and technology costs may add about $500 to $1,500.

Program Length

Certificates may take less than 1 year.

Diplomas may take about 1 to 1.5 years.

Associate degrees are usually about 2 years.

Kennesaw State University is a public university northwest of Atlanta.

It is not a traditional interior design school, but it is a strong nearby option for students interested in architecture, the built environment, and design at a university level.

It may be a good fit for students who are more interested in architectural design, spatial design, building systems, and long-term professional study.

Programs Offered

Kennesaw State offers architecture-related programs through its College of Architecture and Construction Management.

Students can study design studios, building technology, drawing, digital modeling, construction systems, environmental design, and professional practice.

While this is not the same as an interior design degree, it can be relevant for students interested in interior architecture, adaptive reuse, space planning, and the design of built environments.

Students who specifically want interior design should compare this carefully with programs at SCAD, Georgia State, or Gwinnett Tech.

Architecture programs are typically more building-focused and may include a heavier emphasis on structures, site, building systems, and architectural design.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, Kennesaw State is usually less expensive than private art schools but more expensive than technical colleges.

In-state students may pay several thousand dollars per semester in tuition and fees.

Architecture-related students should also budget for studio supplies, models, printing, software, a laptop, and portfolio development, which may add about $1,000 to $3,000 per year.

Program Length

Architecture-related bachelor’s studies usually take 4 years.

Professional architecture pathways may require additional graduate study depending on the student’s goals.

About the School

Emory Continuing Education is part of Emory University in Atlanta and offers non-degree professional and personal development courses.

It is a good option for adults who want a short, focused introduction to decorating rather than a full college degree.

This is especially useful for beginners, hobbyists, home stagers, real estate professionals, or people testing the field before committing to a longer program.

Programs Offered

Emory Continuing Education offers an Interior Decorating and Home Staging Certificate.

The program covers decorating principles, furniture selection and placement, lighting, accessories, color theory, style identification, visual effects, and home staging concepts.

It is more decorating-focused than technical interior design, so students should not confuse it with a full interior design degree.

This option is best for students who want practical residential decorating skills in a short format.

It is not the same as a CIDA-accredited interior design degree or a pathway that automatically qualifies someone for professional registration.

Tuition and Cost

Short continuing education certificates are much less expensive than degree programs.

Students should expect costs in the range of several hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the course package and current pricing.

Extra costs may include books, materials, optional design tools, and project supplies.

Program Length

The certificate can often be completed in about 3 months.

About the School

The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education is based in Athens, but its online programs can be relevant for Atlanta-area students who want flexible training without commuting.

It is best for students who want a residential design course rather than a campus-based interior design degree.

Programs Offered

UGA’s continuing education options include Certified Residential Interior Designer training.

The course is focused on residential interiors and may cover space planning, color, materials, furniture, lighting, client communication, design business basics, and preparation for residential design-related certification.

This is a practical option for beginners who want an online, career-oriented introduction.

It is not the same as a bachelor’s degree in interior design, so students who want professional interior design credentials should check Georgia’s requirements and ask whether the course fits their goals.

Tuition and Cost

Online residential interior design certificate training often costs around $2,000 to $3,000, depending on the provider, package, and included materials.

Students may also need a computer, internet access, books, and optional design software.

Extra expenses may range from about $100 to $500.

Program Length

The program is usually self-paced and may take about 6 to 12 months.

About the School

Chattahoochee Technical College is a public technical college in the northwest Atlanta metro area, with campuses serving Marietta, Acworth, Canton, Dallas, and nearby communities.

It can be a practical choice for students who want affordable technical design training close to Cobb County and the surrounding suburbs.

Programs Offered

Chattahoochee Tech offers design and drafting-related programs that can support students interested in interior design, architectural drafting, construction documents, or CAD work.

Coursework may include computer-aided drafting, technical drawing, 3D modeling, design documentation, and construction-related drawing methods.

This is best for students who want to build technical skills rather than study a full interiors studio curriculum.

For someone interested in interior design, these programs can be useful for learning how to create floor plans, read construction documents, and communicate design ideas with builders, architects, or contractors.

Tuition and Cost

As a Georgia technical college, Chattahoochee Tech is generally one of the more affordable routes.

Tuition may be around $100 per credit before fees.

Shorter certificates may cost about $1,500 to $4,000, while associate-level study may cost about $6,000 to $8,000 before books, supplies, software, and technology expenses.

Students should budget another $500 to $1,500 for materials and software-related costs.

Program Length

Certificate options may take less than 1 year.

Associate degree programs are usually about 2 years full-time.