8 Best Interior Design Schools in Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University is a large public university located in Baton Rouge.

It is the main local option for students who want a full interior design degree rather than a short certificate or drafting-only program.

LSU’s School of Interior Design is part of the College of Art & Design, which makes it a strong fit for students who want studio work, design theory, professional preparation, and a university-level design environment.

Programs Offered

LSU offers a Bachelor of Interior Design.

The program includes interior design studios, design fundamentals, space planning, materials, finishes, furniture, lighting, building systems, health and safety, codes, research, visual communication, and professional practice.

Students also build portfolio work through studio projects and critiques.

LSU also offers graduate study in interior design, which may interest students who already have a design background or want to continue into research, teaching, advanced practice, or specialized design work.

Students interested in professional certification should ask how the program supports NCIDQ exam preparation and Louisiana interior design registration requirements.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, LSU’s cost depends on residency, fees, housing, meal plans, and course load.

Louisiana residents should expect tuition and fees to cost several thousand dollars per semester, while out-of-state students usually pay much more.

Interior design students should also budget about $1,000 to $3,000 per year for books, studio supplies, printing, model materials, software, laptop requirements, and portfolio work.

Program Length

The Bachelor of Interior Design is a 4-year program.

Baton Rouge Community College is a public community college located in Baton Rouge.

It is a practical local option for students who want affordable technical training connected to drafting, CAD, design documentation, and construction drawings.

BRCC is not the same as a full interior design studio school, but it can be useful for students who want the technical side of interior design.

Programs Offered

BRCC offers Drafting and Design Technology programs.

Students can study technical drawing, CAD, design documentation, construction drawings, and drafting practices used in architecture, engineering, manufacturing, and construction.

BRCC also offers online AutoCAD and residential interior design training through continuing education-style courses.

For interior design students, the drafting route can be useful for learning how to create floor plans, elevations, kitchen and bath layouts, and construction document sets.

Students who want more decorating, furnishings, textiles, and studio design should compare BRCC with LSU or a dedicated interior design certificate.

Tuition and Cost

Public community college tuition is usually much lower than university tuition.

Students should expect total costs for a certificate or technical diploma to range from a few thousand dollars to around $6,000 to $8,000, depending on credit load, fees, and course sequence.

Books, software, drafting tools, supplies, and technology fees may add about $500 to $1,500 per year.

Program Length

Certificate or diploma options may take about 1 year.

Associate-level study is usually about 2 years for full-time students.

ITI Technical College is a private technical college located in Baton Rouge.

It is a good option for students who want career-focused drafting and design technology training in a shorter, technical format.

This school is better for students who want CAD and drafting skills than for those seeking a traditional interior design studio degree.

Programs Offered

ITI offers an Associate in Occupational Studies in Drafting and Design Technology.

The program includes AutoCAD, CAD drafting, technical drawing, mathematics, pictorial drawing, engineering graphics, blueprint-style documentation, and workplace communication.

Students may also work with 2D and 3D drawing methods.

For interior design students, this can be useful if the goal is to work with construction documents, floor plans, cabinet layouts, architectural drawings, or design support.

It does not replace a full interior design degree, but it can provide practical technical skills that design firms and construction-related offices often value.

Tuition and Cost

Private technical college costs are usually higher than those of public community colleges.

Students should expect total program costs to be in the range of several thousand dollars to over $20,000, depending on tuition, fees, books, supplies, and program length.

Extra costs may include software access, a computer, drafting tools, and technology fees.

Program Length

The AOS program is commonly designed as a 2-year program.

Southern University and A&M College is a public university in Baton Rouge.

Its former Bachelor of Architecture degree was discontinued, so students should not treat Southern as a current full architecture or interior design degree option.

However, the university has offered architecture-related coursework in its catalog, which may still be useful for students exploring design history, built environment topics, or transfer planning.

Programs Offered

Southern is most relevant here as a limited design-related option rather than a direct interior design school.

Students may find architecture-related courses, art and design foundations, drawing, visual communication, and general education coursework that can support a future transfer into interior design, architecture, or design technology.

Students who want a complete interior design degree in Baton Rouge should look first at LSU.

Students who want technical drafting should compare BRCC and ITI Technical College.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, Southern’s tuition and fees are usually lower for Louisiana residents than for out-of-state students.

Students taking general art, design, or transfer coursework should expect costs of several thousand dollars per semester for full-time study.

Books, supplies, drawing materials, and computer costs may add about $500 to $1,500 per year.

Program Length

Individual courses can be completed in 1 semester.

A transfer-oriented pathway usually takes 1 to 2 years before moving into a dedicated design program.

River Parishes Community College is a public community college with campuses serving the Baton Rouge and River Parishes region.

It is a useful nearby option for students who want drafting and design technology training at a public college price.

It is best for students interested in CAD, Revit, technical drawings, and design documentation.

Programs Offered

RPCC offers an Associate of Applied Science in Drafting and Design Technology.

The program includes basic and advanced CADD skills, 3D CADD applications, Revit, Inventor, Plant 3D, drafting standards, and technical design practices.

Students can also pursue shorter diploma or certificate options in drafting-related areas.

This is not a traditional interior design program, but it can be very useful for students interested in architectural interiors, kitchen and bath layouts, construction documents, space planning support, and technical drawing.

Tuition and Cost

Public community college costs are generally affordable compared with private or university programs.

A 60-credit associate degree may cost several thousand dollars in tuition and fees, with a realistic range of about $6,000 to $9,000 before books, supplies, software, and transportation.

Students should also budget about $500 to $1,500 per year for drafting materials, software, textbooks, and computer needs.

Program Length

The associate degree is about 60 credit hours and usually takes 2 years full-time.

Diploma and certificate options may take about 1 year or less.

Southeastern Louisiana University is a public university in Hammond, about 45 to 60 minutes from Baton Rouge, depending on traffic.

It does not offer a traditional interior design degree, but it does offer drafting and design technology pathways that can be useful for students interested in technical design, CAD, and the built environment.

Programs Offered

Southeastern offers an Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Technology with a Design Drafter Technology concentration and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology with a Drafting Design concentration.

Coursework may include drafting standards, CAD software, technical drawing, engineering graphics, construction-related drawings, and design documentation.

This path is more technical than decorative.

It may be a good fit for students who want to work with architects, engineers, construction firms, cabinet shops, or design-build companies.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, costs depend on residency, fees, course load, and commuting.

Louisiana residents should expect full-time tuition and fees to cost several thousand dollars per semester.

Students in drafting and design programs may also need books, software, a computer, supplies, and technology fees, which may add about $500 to $2,000 per year.

Program Length

The AAS pathway is usually about 2 years.

The bachelor’s degree is usually about 4 years.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a public university located about 1 hour west of Baton Rouge.

It is one of the strongest nearby choices for students who want a full interior design degree but are willing to commute, relocate, or compare options outside Baton Rouge.

The program is part of the School of Architecture and Design.

Programs Offered

UL Lafayette offers a Bachelor of Interior Design.

The program includes interior design studios, architecture and design foundations, space planning, materials, lighting, furniture, digital design, visual communication, sustainability, building systems, and professional practice.

This is a better match for students who want a full professional interior design education rather than a drafting-only program.

Students interested in professional credentials should ask how the program supports NCIDQ eligibility and Louisiana registration requirements.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, UL Lafayette is generally more affordable for Louisiana residents than for out-of-state students.

Full-time students should expect tuition and fees to cost several thousand dollars per semester.

Interior design students should also budget about $1,000 to $2,500 per year for studio supplies, printing, software, books, laptop needs, and portfolio development.

Program Length

The Bachelor of Interior Design is usually a 4-year, 120-credit program.

Delgado Community College is a public community college in New Orleans, about 80 miles from Baton Rouge.

It is not inside Baton Rouge, but it can be relevant for students comparing Louisiana interior design and residential design options.

Students should check current availability carefully because program offerings can change over time.

Programs Offered

Delgado has offered an Associate of Arts in Interior Design and also provides online residential interior design training through continuing education partners.

Interior design coursework may include design fundamentals, drawing, color, space planning, materials, professional practice, and residential design concepts.

If a student wants a degree-based interior design pathway, they should confirm whether the associate program is currently active and accepting students.

If not, the online residential design training may still be useful for beginners who want a flexible, non-degree option.

Tuition and Cost

Delgado is generally more affordable than private colleges.

A full associate degree at a public community college may cost several thousand dollars in tuition and fees, while online residential interior design training often costs about $2,000 to $3,000.

Books, supplies, software, and portfolio materials may add about $500 to $1,500.

Program Length

An associate’s degree is usually about 2 years.

Online residential interior design training may be self-paced and take about 6 to 12 months.