6 Best Interior Design Schools in Denver, CO

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, usually called RMCAD, is a private art and design college located in Lakewood, just west of Denver.

It is one of the strongest Denver-area choices for students who want a full interior design degree in a creative college environment.

The school may be a good fit for students who want studio courses, design software training, portfolio development, and access to design-specific facilities.

Programs Offered

RMCAD offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design.

Students study space planning, lighting, materials, building systems, sustainability, design history, furniture, presentation methods, and professional practice.

The program also includes digital design tools such as Adobe software, CAD, and Revit.

Students have access to resources such as a materials library, computer labs, and drafting classrooms.

This is a more complete route than a short decorating certificate because it includes studio projects, technical skills, and portfolio-building work.

Tuition and Cost

RMCAD is a private college, so tuition is much higher than public community college options.

Students should expect annual costs to reach several tens of thousands of dollars when tuition, fees, books, and supplies are included.

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

Program Length

The BFA is usually a 4-year program.

Front Range Community College is a public college with campuses in Westminster, Longmont, Fort Collins, and other Colorado locations.

It is one of the most practical Denver-area options for students who want a direct interior architecture and design program at a lower cost than a private college.

It can be a good fit for beginners, career changers, and students who want an associate degree or shorter certificate.

Programs Offered

Front Range offers an Associate of Applied Science in Interior Architecture and Design.

It also offers certificate options in Interior Design Fundamentals and Kitchen and Bath Design.

Students can study design concepts, architecture, manual drafting, CAD, sketching, computer-generated presentation drawings, materials, finishes, kitchen and bath planning, and portfolio-related work.

The kitchen and bath certificate can be especially useful for students interested in residential remodeling, cabinetry, fixtures, lighting, and space planning.

Tuition and Cost

As a public community college, Front Range is usually much less expensive than private design schools.

Colorado resident tuition for a certificate or associate degree may cost several thousand dollars, depending on credit load and fees.

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

Program Length

Certificate options may take about 1 year or less.

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

Arapahoe Community College is a public community college located in Littleton, south of Denver.

It is one of the better nearby public college options for students who want interior design, CAD, drafting, or design technology training.

ACC can be a good fit for students who want a lower-cost route with practical, hands-on coursework.

Programs Offered

Arapahoe Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Interior Design.

The program includes design fundamentals, space planning, residential design, commercial design, materials, color, drawing, CAD, professional practice, and portfolio development.

ACC also offers a Computer-Aided Drafting certificate with training in tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp Pro, SolidWorks, and Enscape.

For interior design students, this can be useful for floor plans, elevations, 3D models, furniture layouts, and presentation drawings.

Tuition and Cost

ACC is a public college, so it is generally more affordable than private art and design schools.

A full associate degree may cost several thousand dollars in tuition and fees, depending on residency and credits.

Students should also budget about $500 to $2,000 per year for books, drafting tools, design supplies, software access, printing, and portfolio costs.

Program Length

The interior design associate degree may take about 2 to 2.5 years.

CAD certificates may take about 1 year or less.

The University of Colorado Denver is a public university located in downtown Denver.

Its College of Architecture and Planning is a strong option for students interested in interior design, architecture, planning, and the broader built environment.

This is better suited for students who want a university-level design setting rather than a short residential decorating course.

Programs Offered

CU Denver offers interior design study through its College of Architecture and Planning.

Students may study interior environments, design thinking, sustainability, health and wellness, human-centered design, materials, spatial planning, and professional design practice.

CU Denver is especially relevant for students who want interior design connected to architecture, landscape architecture, and planning.

The school also offers architecture-related programs that may interest students focused on interior architecture, adaptive reuse, urban interiors, and building systems.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, CU Denver’s costs depend on residency, course load, fees, and program level.

Colorado residents generally pay less than nonresidents.

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

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

Program Length

Certificate study may take about 1 year.

Bachelor ’s-level architecture or design-related study is usually about 4 years, depending on the chosen pathway.

Heritage School of Interior Design is a private interior design training provider with a Denver campus.

It is a good option for students who want a shorter, focused interior design program instead of a college degree.

This school may appeal to career changers, decorators, home stagers, real estate professionals, and beginners who want practical residential design training.

Programs Offered

Heritage offers interior design courses in Denver, including Fundamentals of Interior Design, Digital Presentation, Intro to AutoCAD, SketchUp, Advanced AutoCAD, and Kitchen Design.

Students may also study materials, finishes, space planning, client presentations, business basics, and portfolio-building projects.

This route is shorter and more focused than a bachelor’s degree.

It may be useful for students who want to start a decorating or residential design business, build client presentation skills, or learn software for interior design projects.

Tuition and Cost

Private certificate programs can cost several thousand dollars, depending on the course package and schedule.

Students should also budget about $500 to $2,000 for supplies, software, a laptop, samples, project materials, and portfolio expenses.

Program Length

Some programs can be completed in 1 term.

Other certificate paths may take several months to about 1 year, depending on schedule and course load.

Community College of Denver is a public community college located in Denver.

It does not operate as a traditional interior design school, but it is useful for students who want architectural technology, CAD, and drafting skills inside the city.

This can be a practical, lower-cost route for students interested in the technical side of interior design.

Programs Offered

CCD offers Architectural Technologies and CAD-related coursework.

Students may study Revit Architecture, architectural drafting, construction documents, 3D modeling, technical drawing, and design documentation.

For interior design students, these skills can help with floor plans, elevations, furniture layouts, reflected ceiling plans, construction details, and communication with architects or contractors.

Students who want a full interiors curriculum with lighting, furniture, materials, and studio design should compare CCD with RMCAD, Front Range, or Arapahoe Community College.

Tuition and Cost

As a public community college, CCD is generally more affordable than private colleges.

A certificate may cost a few thousand dollars, while an associate-level pathway may cost more depending on credits and fees.

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

Program Length

Certificate options may take about 1 year.

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