6 Best Interior Design Schools in Columbus, OH

The Ohio State University is a large public university located in Columbus.

It is one of the strongest local options for students who want a full interior design degree in a major university setting.

The program is a good fit for students who want studio work, design research, professional preparation, and a broader design-school environment.

Programs Offered

Ohio State offers a Bachelor of Science in Design in Interior Design through its Department of Design.

The program includes design studios, interior environments, space planning, design communication, materials, lighting, building systems, human-centered design, sustainability, research methods, and professional practice.

Students can expect a selective and structured design curriculum with portfolio development, critiques, studio projects, and digital design work.

This is a better fit for students who want professional interior design preparation than a short decorating course.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, Ohio State’s cost depends on residency, housing, fees, and course load.

Ohio residents should expect tuition and fees to cost several thousand dollars per semester, while nonresident students usually pay much more.

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

Program Length

The bachelor’s degree is usually a 4-year program.

Columbus College of Art & Design, often called CCAD, is a private art and design college located in downtown Columbus.

It is one of the best local options for students who want an art school environment with a direct interior architecture and design program.

CCAD may be a good fit for students who want creative studio culture, portfolio development, and design work connected to interiors, objects, materials, and spatial experience.

Programs Offered

CCAD offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture & Design.

Students study interior environments, space planning, lighting, furniture, materials, building systems, digital modeling, drawing, design presentation, sustainability, and professional practice.

The program includes hands-on studio work and portfolio development.

Students may work on residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, and public interior environments, depending on course projects and studio focus.

Tuition and Cost

CCAD is a private art and design college, so tuition is much higher than public community college options.

Annual undergraduate tuition can be in the range of several tens of thousands of dollars before housing, meals, books, supplies, and fees.

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

Program Length

The BFA is usually a 4-year program.

Columbus State Community College is a public community college located in Columbus.

It does not offer the same type of full interior design bachelor’s degree as Ohio State or CCAD, but it is a practical and affordable option for students who want architecture, CAD, and drafting skills that connect closely to interior design work.

This can be a smart starting point for students who want lower tuition, technical training, or a transfer-friendly path before moving into a 4-year design program.

Programs Offered

Columbus State offers Architecture and Architectural CAD Drafting options.

Students can study architectural drawing, CAD, construction documents, building materials, design communication, technical drawing, and digital drafting.

For interior design students, these skills are useful because designers often need to understand floor plans, elevations, wall sections, furniture layouts, reflected ceiling plans, and basic construction documents.

This route is more technical than decorating-focused, so students who want furniture, textiles, color, and full interiors studio work should compare it with Ohio State or CCAD.

Tuition and Cost

As a public community college, Columbus State is generally one of the more affordable choices in the area.

Ohio resident tuition is usually much lower than university or private art school tuition.

A certificate may cost a few thousand dollars, while an associate degree may cost several thousand dollars more, depending on credit load and fees.

Students should also budget about $500 to $1,500 per year for books, drafting supplies, software access, printing, technology fees, and a capable computer.

Program Length

Certificate options may take about 1 year or less.

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

Columbus State also offers online career training that can be useful for students who want a flexible residential interior design course.

This is a good option for beginners, decorators, homeowners, career changers, or students who want to test the field before committing to a full degree.

Programs Offered

The online Certified Residential Interior Designer course focuses on residential design rather than commercial interiors or interior architecture.

Students may study space planning, color, furniture, materials, lighting, client needs, design process, residential project planning, and business basics.

This option is practical for students who want to learn home-focused design skills.

It should not be confused with a bachelor’s degree, and students interested in professional certification should ask whether the course supports their long-term goals.

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 depend on whether students choose to practice with digital design tools outside the required course materials.

Program Length

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

Ohio University is a public university based in Athens, about 75 miles southeast of Columbus.

It is not in Columbus, but it is one of the strongest Ohio options for students who want a full interior architecture degree and are willing to study online or relocate.

It is especially relevant because it offers both campus-based and online interior architecture options.

Programs Offered

Ohio University offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture.

The program includes interior design studios, space planning, materials, lighting, building systems, sustainability, design communication, digital software, professional practice, and portfolio development.

The online BFA option can be useful for Columbus-area students who need flexibility but still want a structured degree.

Students should expect studio-style assignments, technical design work, and portfolio projects, even in an online format.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, Ohio University’s costs depend on residency, program format, fees, and course load.

Ohio residents usually pay less than nonresidents.

Students should expect tuition and fees to cost several thousand dollars per semester for full-time study.

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

Program Length

The BFA is usually a 4-year program.

Online students may take longer if they attend part-time.

Sinclair Community College is a public community college located in Dayton, about 70 miles west of Columbus.

It is not local to Columbus, but it is a useful nearby option for students who want an affordable associate degree specifically in interior design.

It may be worth comparing for students who are willing to commute, relocate, or take some coursework in a flexible format.

Programs Offered

Sinclair offers an Associate of Applied Science in Interior Design.

The program includes design fundamentals, drafting, space planning, textiles, materials, lighting, residential design, commercial design, presentation techniques, digital design, and professional preparation.

This is more directly connected to interior design than a general architecture or CAD program.

It can be a good fit for students who want a 2-year pathway that includes both creative and technical interiors coursework.

Tuition and Cost

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

Ohio resident students may pay several thousand dollars for a full associate degree before books, fees, and supplies.

Students should also budget about $500 to $1,500 per year for drafting tools, software, design materials, printing, samples, books, and portfolio costs.

Program Length

The AAS degree is about 63 to 65 credit hours and usually takes about 2 years for full-time students.