7 Best Interior Design Schools in Chicago, IL

Columbia College Chicago is a private college located in downtown Chicago.

It is one of the most relevant schools in the city for students who want a full bachelor ’s-level interior design education in an urban creative environment.

The school may be a good fit for students who want studio courses, portfolio development, and exposure to Chicago’s design, architecture, hospitality, retail, and commercial interiors markets.

Programs Offered

Columbia offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture.

The program focuses on interior environments, space planning, human-centered design, materials, lighting, construction documents, building systems, digital design, visual communication, and professional practice.

Students can expect studio projects, critiques, presentations, and portfolio work.

The program is more comprehensive than a short decorating certificate and is better suited for students who want professional interior design or interior architecture preparation.

Tuition and Cost

As a private college, Columbia costs much more than public community college options.

Undergraduate tuition can be in the range of $30,000+ per year before housing, meals, fees, books, and supplies.

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

Program Length

The BFA is usually a 4-year program.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, often called SAIC, is a private art and design school located in downtown Chicago.

It is not a traditional interior design trade school, but it is highly relevant for students interested in interior architecture, designed environments, furniture, objects, spatial design, and experimental design work.

SAIC is a better fit for students who want an art-school approach rather than a strictly technical or residential interior design program.

Programs Offered

SAIC offers design-related study through areas such as Designed Objects, Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Environments.

Students may study spatial design, furniture, materials, lighting, exhibition environments, digital modeling, fabrication, design research, and studio practice.

This can be useful for students who want to work at the intersection of interiors, objects, architecture, installation, and product design.

Students who want a more conventional interior design curriculum with residential and commercial studio sequences should compare SAIC carefully with Columbia, College of DuPage, or Harper College.

Tuition and Cost

SAIC is a private art school, so tuition is usually high.

Undergraduate tuition can be around $55,000 per year before housing, meals, fees, supplies, and books.

Design students should also budget about $1,500 to $4,000 per year for studio materials, software, fabrication, printing, models, tools, and portfolio work.

Program Length

Bachelor ’s-level study is usually 4 years.

Graduate design programs vary, but many take about 2 years.

College of DuPage is a public community college in Glen Ellyn, about 25 miles west of Chicago.

It is one of the strongest affordable options near Chicago for students who want a direct interior design program without private college tuition.

It can be a good fit for beginners, career changers, and students who want practical studio and technical training.

Programs Offered

College of DuPage offers Interior Design programs, including an Associate in Applied Science and certificate options.

Students can study space planning, color, materials, textiles, lighting, furniture, kitchen and bath design, residential design, commercial design, drafting, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and portfolio development.

The school also offers related coursework in architecture and construction, which can help students understand building systems, codes, drawings, and design documentation.

Tuition and Cost

Community college tuition is much lower than private design school tuition.

In-district students may pay around $140 to $160 per credit, while out-of-district and out-of-state students pay more.

A 60-credit associate degree may cost roughly $8,000 to $12,000 in tuition and fees for in-district students before books and supplies.

Students should also budget about $500 to $2,000 per year for drafting supplies, software, printing, materials, samples, and portfolio expenses.

Program Length

The AAS degree is usually about 2 years full-time.

Certificate options may take about 1 year, depending on course load.

Harper College is a public community college located in Palatine, northwest of Chicago.

It is a strong suburban option for students who want interior design training at a lower cost than a private university.

It is especially practical for students in the northwest suburbs who want a 2-year or certificate-based route.

Programs Offered

Harper offers an Associate in Applied Science in Interior Design and several certificate options.

The curriculum can include interior design fundamentals, drawing, drafting, color, materials, lighting, furniture, space planning, kitchen and bath design, commercial interiors, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, and portfolio development.

The certificate options may be useful for students who want targeted skills without completing the full associate degree.

The AAS is better for students who want a broader, more structured interior design education.

Tuition and Cost

Harper’s in-district tuition is usually much lower than private college tuition.

Students may pay around $140 to $160 per credit, with higher rates for out-of-district students.

A 60-credit associate degree may cost roughly $8,000 to $12,000 in tuition and fees for in-district students.

Books, software, studio supplies, samples, printing, and portfolio costs may add about $500 to $2,000 per year.

Program Length

The AAS degree is usually about 2 years.

Shorter certificates may take about 1 year or less.

Oakton College is a public community college with campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie, north of Chicago.

It is a practical option for students who want design-related training close to the city, especially if they are interested in drafting, CAD, architecture, or visual design foundations.

Oakton is not always the first school people think of for interior design, but it can still be useful for students building technical and creative skills before transferring or entering a more specialized interiors program.

Programs Offered

Oakton offers art, graphic design, CAD, and architecture-related coursework that can support interior design preparation.

Students may study drawing, 2D and 3D design, digital tools, drafting, design presentation, and technical communication.

This path is best for students who want to build a foundation or transfer plan.

Students looking for a complete interior design program should compare Oakton with Harper College, College of DuPage, or Columbia College Chicago.

Tuition and Cost

Oakton is generally affordable compared with private schools.

In-district students may pay around $140 to $160 per credit, while out-of-district students pay more.

A shorter certificate or transfer-focused year may cost a few thousand dollars, while a 2-year associate pathway may cost around $8,000 to $12,000 in tuition and fees before supplies.

Students should budget about $500 to $1,500 per year for books, software, art supplies, printing, and computer needs.

Program Length

Individual courses take 1 semester.

Certificate or transfer-focused pathways may take about 1 to 2 years.

City Colleges of Chicago is the public community college system serving Chicago.

It is not mainly known for a traditional interior design degree, but it can be useful for students who want affordable coursework in architecture, drafting, construction technology, art, or digital design before moving into a specialized interior design program.

This is a good starting point for students who live in Chicago and want to keep costs low while building transferable or technical skills.

Programs Offered

City Colleges’ programs vary by campus, but students may find related studies in construction technology, architecture, CAD, art, design, and digital media.

Useful coursework may include drafting, technical drawing, construction documents, design software, drawing, color, and visual communication.

For interior design students, City Colleges can work as a foundation route.

Students who want furniture, lighting, textiles, materials, and studio interiors should plan to transfer or add a dedicated interior design program later.

Tuition and Cost

City Colleges are usually one of the most affordable options for Chicago residents.

In-district tuition is commonly much lower than private college tuition.

A full year of community college coursework may cost a few thousand dollars before books, fees, supplies, and transportation.

Students should budget about $300 to $1,500 per year for books, software, art supplies, printing, and basic technology costs.

Program Length

Individual courses take 1 semester. Certificates may take about 1 year.

Transfer-oriented associate pathways usually take about 2 years.

Illinois Institute of Technology, often called Illinois Tech, is a private technology-focused university in Chicago.

It does not operate like a traditional residential interior design school, but its architecture and design programs are relevant for students interested in interior architecture, spatial design, building systems, and the built environment.

This option is best for students who are more interested in architecture, space, structure, and design technology than decorating or home styling.

Programs Offered

Illinois Tech offers architecture and design programs that may include architectural studios, building systems, digital modeling, environmental design, fabrication, urban design, design communication, and professional practice.

Students interested in interiors may use this path to study how buildings and interior environments are planned, documented, and constructed.

However, students who want a direct interior design degree should compare Illinois Tech with Columbia College Chicago or nearby community college interior design programs.

Tuition and Cost

Illinois Tech is a private university, so tuition is much higher than at a community college.

Undergraduate tuition can be in the range of $50,000 per year before housing, meals, fees, books, and supplies.

Architecture and 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

Bachelor ’s-level architecture or design study is usually about 4 years.

Professional architecture pathways may require additional graduate study.