7 Best Interior Design Schools in Houston, TX

Houston Community College is a public community college system serving the Houston area.

It is one of the most practical choices for students who want a direct interior design program in the city at a lower cost than a 4-year university.

HCC can be a good fit for beginners who want hands-on training, flexible scheduling, and a career-focused program with both residential and technical design coursework.

Programs Offered

HCC offers an Associate of Applied Science in Interior Design.

The program includes design fundamentals, space planning, color, materials, finishes, furniture, drafting, building codes, lighting, digital design, and professional practices.

Students can also choose shorter certificate options, including Residential Interior Design and Kitchen and Bath Design Professional pathways.

These are useful for students who want targeted training in home interiors, remodeling, cabinetry, fixtures, finishes, and residential planning.

Tuition and Cost

HCC is usually much more affordable than private design schools.

In-district tuition is commonly about $85 per semester credit hour, while out-of-district and out-of-state students pay more.

A 60-credit associate degree may cost about $5,000 to $12,000 in tuition and fees, depending on residency.

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

Program Length

The AAS degree is usually about 2 years.

The Residential Interior Design certificate is about 44 credits and may take around 3 semesters full-time.

The Kitchen and Bath Design certificate is about 24 credits and may take about 1 year.

The University of Houston is a large public university located in Houston.

Its interior architecture program is one of the strongest local options for students seeking a 4-year design education focused on architecture, interiors, sustainability, materials, lighting, and spatial planning.

It is a good fit for students who want university-level studio work rather than a short decorating certificate.

Programs Offered

UH offers a Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture.

The program focuses on architectural interiors, with coursework in interior environments, design studios, sustainability, materiality, color theory, lighting, building systems, social and cultural aspects of space, digital design, and professional communication.

This program is more architecture-focused than a basic residential decorating course.

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

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, UH costs depend on residency, fees, housing, course load, and supplies.

Texas residents usually pay less than out-of-state students.

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

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

Program Length

The BS in Interior Architecture is a 4-year program and includes about 132 semester hours.

Lone Star College is a public college system serving the greater Houston area, including campuses north and northwest of the city.

It is not a traditional interior design school, but it is highly useful for students seeking affordable training in architecture, drafting, CAD, and design technology.

This can be a smart option for students who are more interested in technical drawing than residential decorating.

Programs Offered

Lone Star offers an Associate of Applied Science in Architectural Design Technology.

Students can study architectural drafting, technical drawing, CAD, building documentation, construction plans, design communication, and digital drafting tools.

For interior design students, this type of training is useful because many design jobs require the ability to read and create floor plans, elevations, reflected ceiling plans, cabinetry drawings, furniture layouts, and construction documents.

It can also be helpful for students who want to work with architects, builders, kitchen and bath firms, or design-build companies.

Tuition and Cost

Lone Star is generally much less expensive than private colleges.

Local tuition for community college students is usually a few thousand dollars per year, depending on residency and course load.

A 2-year associate pathway may cost several thousand dollars in tuition and fees before books and supplies.

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

Program Length

The Architectural Design Technology AAS is a 2-year program.

Level I certificate coursework may usually be completed in about 1 year.

San Jacinto College is a public community college serving the southeast Houston metro area.

It is a useful option for students who want drafting, CAD, and technical design skills at a lower cost than a university.

While it is not a full interior design degree program, it can support students interested in the technical side of interiors, architecture, construction, and space planning.

Programs Offered

San Jacinto College offers drafting and engineering design graphics programs.

Students may study computer-aided drafting, AutoCAD, Revit, technical drawing, 3D modeling, construction documents, and design documentation.

For interior design students, this route can help with floor plans, elevations, furniture layouts, reflected ceiling plans, millwork drawings, and communication with contractors or architects.

Students who want a full interiors curriculum with lighting, furniture, textiles, and studio projects should compare it with HCC or UH.

Tuition and Cost

As a public community college, San Jacinto is usually affordable for local students.

Certificate and associate degree costs depend on residency, credit load, and fees.

Students may expect several thousand dollars in tuition and fees for a certificate or associate pathway.

Additional costs may include books, software, drafting tools, lab fees, printing, and a capable computer, often about $500 to $1,500 per year.

Program Length

Certificate options may take about 1 year or less.

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

Sam Houston State University is a public university in Huntsville, about 70 miles north of Houston.

It is one of the strongest nearby options for Houston students who want a bachelor’s degree specifically in interior design and are willing to commute, relocate, or compare regional schools.

Programs Offered

SHSU offers bachelor’s programs in Interior Design.

Students study interior design fundamentals, space planning, materials, lighting, building systems, design history, residential and commercial design, professional practice, technical drawing, and digital design.

The program has sequenced interior design courses, which means students should plan carefully and follow the recommended course order.

Students interested in professional certification should ask how the curriculum supports NCIDQ exam eligibility and Texas registration requirements.

Tuition and Cost

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

Texas residents usually pay less than 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 software, laptop needs, books, studio supplies, printing, models, materials, and portfolio development.

Program Length

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

Prairie View A&M University is a public university located northwest of Houston.

It does not offer a standard interior design degree, but its architecture program is relevant for students interested in interior architecture, building design, spatial planning, and the built environment.

It may be a good fit for students who want a design education with a stronger architecture focus.

Programs Offered

PVAMU offers architecture-related study through its School of Architecture.

Students may study architectural design studios, drawing, building systems, construction methods, environmental design, digital modeling, design history, and professional practice.

For interior design students, this option is most useful if the long-term goal is interior architecture, adaptive reuse, commercial space planning, or design work connected to buildings.

Students who want furniture, textiles, residential interiors, and interiors-specific studio courses should compare PVAMU carefully with HCC, UH, or SHSU.

Tuition and Cost

As a public university, PVAMU is usually more affordable for Texas residents than private schools.

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

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

Program Length

Bachelor ’s-level architecture study usually takes about 4 years.

Professional architecture pathways may require additional graduate study.

Rice University is a private university located in Houston.

It is not a traditional interior design school, but it is relevant for students interested in architecture, spatial design, design research, and the built environment.

Rice is a better fit for students who want an academically rigorous architecture pathway rather than a residential interior design program.

Programs Offered

Rice offers architecture programs that include design studios, architectural history, visual communication, digital modeling, building systems, materials, urban context, environmental design, and professional practice.

For students interested in interiors, Rice may be relevant if the goal is interior architecture, adaptive reuse, spatial design, or architecture-led design practice.

It is not the best match for students who mainly want decorating, furniture selection, textiles, or a short residential design certificate.

Tuition and Cost

Rice is a private university, so tuition and total cost are much higher than public community college options.

Annual undergraduate costs can reach several tens of thousands of dollars before housing, meals, books, fees, and supplies.

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

Program Length

Bachelor ’s-level architecture study usually takes about 4 years, with additional professional study depending on the student’s goals.