8 Best Interior Design Schools in Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield College is a public community college located in Bakersfield.

It is the most practical local starting point for students who want design-related training without leaving Kern County.

While it is not mainly an interior design school, its architecture and drafting programs are closely related for students interested in space planning, floor plans, construction drawings, and building design.

Programs Offered

Bakersfield College offers an Architecture/Architectural Drafting program with an Associate of Science degree and a CAD-focused job skills certificate.

Students can study architectural drafting, design concepts, construction technology, technical drawing, AutoCAD, and design documentation.

For someone interested in interior design, this route is useful because interior designers often need to read floor plans, understand building layouts, communicate with contractors, and prepare technical drawings.

Students who want decorating, furniture selection, textiles, or residential styling should consider pairing this program with an interior design certificate or online residential design course.

Tuition and Cost

California community college enrollment fees are commonly about $46 per unit for California residents.

A 60-unit associate degree may cost about $2,760 in enrollment fees before campus fees, books, supplies, and materials.

Students should budget about $500 to $1,500 per year for textbooks, drafting tools, software access, printing, portfolio materials, and technology needs.

Program Length

The associate degree is usually about 2 years for full-time students.

The CAD job skills certificate may be completed in about 1 year or less, depending on course scheduling.

Bakersfield College also offers an Industrial Drawing and Drafting pathway that can be useful for students who want stronger AutoCAD and technical drawing skills.

This is not a traditional interior design program, but it can help students build the digital drafting foundation used in many design and construction offices.

Programs Offered

The Industrial Drawing, AutoCAD Job Skills Certificate focuses on AutoCAD, 2D drafting, 3D solid modeling, design refinements, accurate technical drawings, and drafting practices.

This can be helpful for students interested in interior design support roles, architectural drafting, cabinet design, kitchen and bath layouts, furniture layouts, or technical design documentation.

Students who want to become interior designers should understand that this program is more software and drafting-focused than studio or decorating-focused.

It is best used as a technical skill add-on.

Tuition and Cost

Because this is a community college certificate, the base enrollment cost is usually much lower than private school tuition.

At about $46 per unit for California residents, a short certificate may cost roughly $500 to $1,500 in enrollment fees before books, supplies, software, and campus fees.

Students may also need a reliable computer, drafting supplies, and printing funds.

Program Length

The certificate can often be completed in about 1 to 2 semesters, depending on course availability and the student’s schedule.

California State University, Bakersfield is a public university located in Bakersfield.

CSUB does not function as a traditional interior design degree school, but its Extended Education division offers online design training that can be useful for local beginners who want a flexible residential design option.

Programs Offered

CSUB Extended Education offers a Certified Residential Interior Designer online course.

The program focuses on residential interiors and may include space planning, color theory, materials, furniture, lighting, client communication, design business basics, and preparation for residential design-related credentials.

This option is best for students who want to learn interior design from home.

It should not be confused with a bachelor’s degree in interior design or a program that automatically qualifies students for professional interior design licensing.

Tuition and Cost

Online residential interior design training commonly costs about $2,000 to $3,000.

Students may also need to budget about $100 to $500 for books, optional materials, internet access, and computer needs.

Software costs may vary depending on whether students choose to use digital design tools beyond the required coursework.

Program Length

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

Kern High School District’s Regional Occupational Center and Career Technical Education Center serve Bakersfield and Kern County students with career-focused training.

Its CAD drafting option can be useful for students who want an early or affordable introduction to computer-aided design before moving into college-level architecture, drafting, or interior design study.

Programs Offered

ROC CTEC offers CAD Drafting Essentials, which introduces students to computer-aided drafting concepts and current CAD software.

Students can learn basic drafting tools, technical drawing, digital layout, and design communication.

This is not a full interior design program, but it can help students decide whether they enjoy the technical side of design.

It may be especially useful for students interested in floor plans, construction documents, kitchen layouts, furniture layouts, or architectural drafting.

Tuition and Cost

Costs can vary depending on student status, district availability, and whether the course is taken as part of a high school or adult education pathway.

Students should expect this to be much less expensive than a college degree.

Extra costs may include basic supplies, transportation, and optional materials.

Program Length

Evening CAD courses may run for one term or several months, depending on the schedule.

College of the Canyons is a public community college in Santa Clarita, about 80 to 90 miles south of Bakersfield.

It is one of the strongest interior design-specific community college options for Bakersfield students who are willing to travel, relocate, or take some coursework in a hybrid format if available.

Programs Offered

College of the Canyons offers an Interior Design Certificate of Achievement.

The program includes interior design principles, drafting, color, materials, space planning, furniture, lighting, history, visual presentation, and portfolio-related work.

It also offers related studies in home staging and visual merchandising, which can be useful for students interested in residential decorating, furniture retail, model homes, or real estate presentation.

This is a better fit than a general drafting program for students who specifically want interior design coursework.

Tuition and Cost

California resident community college enrollment fees are commonly about $46 per unit.

A 40-unit certificate may cost about $1,840 in enrollment fees before local fees, books, supplies, printing, and design materials.

A realistic total cost may range from about $3,000 to $7,000, depending on supplies, commuting, and software needs.

Program Length

The Interior Design Certificate of Achievement is about 40 units and is commonly designed to take around 2 years.

Moorpark College is a public community college in Ventura County, roughly 100 miles from Bakersfield.

It is not as close as Bakersfield College, but it may be worth comparing for students who want design and drafting-related study within a California community college setting.

Programs Offered

Moorpark offers design and drafting technology-related programs.

Its drafting technology pathway can include AutoCAD, conventional drafting, architectural drawing, structural drawing, technical design, and computer-aided design.

The school’s design coursework may also help students build visual communication, composition, and portfolio skills.

For interior design students, Moorpark is most useful for technical drafting, design software, and portfolio support rather than a full interiors-only curriculum.

Tuition and Cost

California resident community college tuition is usually about $46 per unit.

A certificate pathway may cost around $1,000 to $3,000 in enrollment fees, while an associate degree can cost about $2,760 before additional fees.

Students should budget about $500 to $1,500 per year for books, design supplies, printing, software, and technology costs.

Program Length

Certificates may take about 1 year.

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

UCLA Extension is based in Los Angeles and offers one of the most recognized interior design certificate pathways in Southern California.

It is farther from Bakersfield, but it can be relevant for students who want a serious part-time interior design program and are willing to study online, commute occasionally, or relocate.

Programs Offered

UCLA Extension offers an Interior Design: Foundation Level Certificate.

The program includes interior design studios, drawing, drafting, lighting, materials, design history, space planning, sustainability, codes, digital tools, and portfolio development.

It is designed for students who want more depth than a short decorating course.

Students who already have a bachelor’s degree may also use the certificate as preparation for advanced interior architecture study, depending on admission requirements and academic performance.

Tuition and Cost

The certificate is more expensive than a community college program, but usually less expensive than a full private university degree.

Students should expect total certificate costs to be in the range of several thousand dollars to over $20,000, depending on current course fees, pace, and materials.

Books, software, studio supplies, printing, and portfolio materials may add about $1,000 to $3,000 across the program.

Program Length

Full-time students may complete the foundation certificate in about 1.5 years.

Part-time students may take longer and usually have up to 5 years to finish.

Santa Monica College is a public community college in Los Angeles County.

It is not close enough for daily commuting from Bakersfield for most students, but it is a strong Southern California option for students willing to relocate or compare affordable interior architecture programs.

Programs Offered

Santa Monica College offers Interior Architectural Design programs through its Design Technology department.

Students can study residential and commercial interiors, space planning, design communication, materials, drawing, modeling, digital design, presentation skills, and portfolio development.

The program can also connect to set design and entertainment-related interiors, which may interest students looking toward the Los Angeles market.

This option is more directly connected to interior spaces than a general drafting program, so it may be a better long-term fit for students who want studio-based interiors training at a community college price.

Tuition and Cost

California resident enrollment fees are usually about $46 per unit.

A certificate or associate pathway may cost a few thousand dollars in enrollment fees before books, supplies, campus fees, software, printing, commuting, or housing.

Students should budget about $500 to $2,000 per year for design materials and technology needs.

Program Length

Certificate options may take about 1 to 2 years.

Associate degree options are usually about 2 years for full-time students.