8 Best Interior Design Schools in Boston, MA

Suffolk University is a private university located in downtown Boston.

Its interior design program is part of the university’s art and design offerings, making it a strong option for students who want a full bachelor’s degree in the middle of the city.

It is a good fit for students who want a traditional 4-year college experience, studio classes, portfolio development, and access to Boston’s design, hospitality, commercial, and residential interiors scene.

Programs Offered

Suffolk offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design.

The program includes design foundations, interior design studios, art and design history, sustainable design, hand sketching, CAD, digital modeling, lighting, furniture design, codes, professional practice, and presentation skills.

Students work on studio projects and critiques, which helps them build a portfolio.

The program is designed for students who want more than a decorating certificate and are interested in professional interior design work or advanced study.

Tuition and Cost

Suffolk is a private university, so students should expect higher costs than at public colleges.

Full-time undergraduate tuition is commonly in the range of $45,000 to $50,000 per year before housing, meals, books, supplies, and fees.

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

Program Length

The BFA is usually a 4-year program and requires about 124 credits.

Wentworth Institute of Technology is a private university in Boston with a strong focus on architecture, design, engineering, and applied technical education.

Its interior design program is a good choice for students who want a structured, career-focused design education with technical depth.

It may appeal to students who like the connection between interiors, architecture, construction, technology, and real-world design projects.

Programs Offered

Wentworth offers a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design.

The program includes studio design, visual communication, design theory, building systems, materials, lighting, construction documentation, digital tools, and professional practice.

Students also develop presentation and portfolio skills.

Because Wentworth has a larger architecture and design environment, students interested in interior design can study interiors while still being surrounded by related disciplines such as architecture, industrial design, and construction.

Tuition and Cost

Wentworth is a private institution, so tuition is significantly higher than public community college rates.

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

Interior design students should also budget about $1,000 to $3,000 per year for software, a laptop, studio materials, printing, models, and portfolio development.

Program Length

The bachelor’s degree is usually completed in 4 years.

Boston Architectural College, often called the BAC, is a private design college in Boston focused on architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, and design studies.

It is one of the most relevant Boston schools for students who want interior architecture rather than a basic decorating program.

It can be a good fit for students who want studio-based learning, professional practice, and flexible study options.

Programs Offered

BAC offers interior architecture programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Students can study interior architecture, spatial design, building systems, materials, evidence-based design, lighting, sustainability, design communication, and professional practice.

BAC also offers a Principles of Interior Design Certificate.

This shorter certificate includes 3 courses and 9 credits, using courses from the interior architecture degree curriculum.

It is useful for students who want to test the field before committing to a longer degree.

Tuition and Cost

BAC undergraduate tuition for full-time bachelor’s students can be around $15,000 to $16,000 per semester.

Part-time tuition is commonly charged per credit and can be over $1,000 per credit.

Students should also budget for books, software, laptop needs, studio materials, printing, and portfolio costs, often about $1,000 to $3,000 per year.

Program Length

The Principles of Interior Design Certificate is 9 credits and can often be completed in less than 1 year.

Bachelor’s programs usually take about 4 years.

Graduate interior architecture programs may take about 2 to 3 years, depending on the track.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design, usually called MassArt, is a public art and design college in Boston.

It is a strong option for students who want an art-school environment but may not need a full traditional interior design bachelor’s degree.

Its newer interior design certificate is especially useful for beginners and working adults who want flexible study.

Programs Offered

MassArt offers an Interior Design certificate program.

The program is designed for beginners and students with varied experience levels.

Coursework may include design ethics, environmental stewardship, interior design history, critical design thinking, material boards, interior presentation drawings, reading architectural drawings, and basic design communication.

MassArt also offers related art, design, architecture, and furniture design options that may be helpful for students who want to build broader creative skills.

Tuition and Cost

MassArt certificate tuition can be around $500 per credit, depending on the academic year and program.

A 12-credit certificate year may cost around $6,000 before supplies and fees.

The interior design certificate is designed to keep material costs lower, but students should still budget for supplies, a computer, optional software, and project materials.

Program Length

The online interior design certificate is designed to take about 8 months.

MassBay Community College is a public community college with campuses in Wellesley Hills, Framingham, and Ashland.

It is one of the more affordable options near Boston for students who want a direct interior design certificate without paying private university tuition.

It can be a good fit for beginners, career changers, and students who want practical residential and commercial design basics.

Programs Offered

MassBay offers an Interior Design Certificate.

Students study interior space planning, color, building codes, materials, furnishings, decorative arts, design history, presentation skills, and residential and commercial design concepts.

The program is more focused than a single short course but shorter and less expensive than a bachelor’s degree.

Students who want professional certification or registration should ask whether the certificate is intended for transfer, portfolio development, or entry-level design support.

Tuition and Cost

As a public community college, MassBay is usually more affordable than private design schools.

Massachusetts community college tuition and fees vary, but students may pay a few hundred dollars per credit when tuition and fees are combined.

A certificate may cost several thousand dollars in total.

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

Program Length

The certificate can often be completed in about 1 year, depending on course availability and whether the student attends full-time or part-time.

Bunker Hill Community College is a public community college located in Boston.

It is not mainly a traditional interior design school, but it offers flexible online design-related training that can be useful for local students who want a beginner-friendly residential interior design course.

Programs Offered

BHCC offers online Certified Residential Interior Designer training through its career training options.

The course focuses on residential interiors and may include space planning, color, materials, furniture, lighting, client needs, design planning, and portfolio-related assignments.

This is best for students who want a flexible online course rather than a campus-based degree.

It is not the same as a 4-year interior design degree.

Tuition and Cost

Online residential interior designer programs commonly cost 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.

Program Length

The course is usually about 160 hours and may be completed in 6 to 12 months, depending on the student’s pace.

Endicott College is a private college in Beverly, about 25 miles north of Boston.

It is a strong nearby option for students who want a full interior architecture program but are open to studying outside the city.

The campus setting is different from downtown Boston schools, which may appeal to students who want a smaller college environment.

Programs Offered

Endicott offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture.

Students study interior design studios, drawing, materials, lighting, codes, digital design, space planning, building systems, presentation methods, and professional practice.

Endicott also offers graduate interior architecture options, including pathways for students continuing beyond the bachelor’s degree.

The program is suited for students who want interior architecture rather than a short decorating certificate.

Tuition and Cost

As a private college, Endicott tuition is usually much higher than public college options.

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

Interior architecture students should budget about $1,000 to $3,000 per year for studio materials, software, printing, laptop requirements, and portfolio costs.

Program Length

The BFA is a 4-year program.

Endicott also has a fifth-year graduate option for eligible students.

UMass Dartmouth is a public university located about 60 miles south of Boston.

It is not inside Boston, but it is one of the more important public university options in Massachusetts for students who want a full interior architecture and design degree.

It may be worth considering for students who want a public university price instead of a private Boston school.

Programs Offered

UMass Dartmouth offers a Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture and Design.

The program includes interior design studios, design technology, materials, sustainability, building systems, space planning, digital tools, presentation, and professional preparation.

This is a stronger match for students who want a full design degree instead of a certificate.

Students interested in professional certification should ask how the program supports NCIDQ exam preparation and Massachusetts-related credential planning.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, UMass Dartmouth is usually more affordable for Massachusetts residents than private colleges.

In-state students should expect tuition and fees to cost several thousand dollars per semester.

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

Program Length

The bachelor’s degree is usually completed in 4 years.