8 Best Interior Design Schools in Los Angeles, CA

UCLA Extension is one of the most recognized interior design education options in Los Angeles.

It is not the same as a traditional undergraduate degree program, but it is a strong choice for adult learners, career changers, working professionals, and students who want flexible evening, weekend, or online study.

The program is especially useful for students who want a structured interior design education without enrolling in a full-time bachelor’s degree.

Programs Offered

UCLA Extension offers an Interior Design: Foundation Level Certificate.

The program gives students a foundation in interior architecture and interior design.

Coursework may include design fundamentals, drafting, space planning, design history, materials, lighting, environmental systems, color, digital tools, and studio-based design work.

Students can also take individual courses in areas such as residential interiors, design software, design studios, professional practice, and interior architecture.

Students who want advanced study should ask how the certificate can connect to the Master of Interior Architecture pathway offered with Cal Poly Pomona.

Tuition and Cost

UCLA Extension’s interior design certificate is more expensive than a community college program but usually less expensive than a private 4-year design degree.

Students should expect total certificate costs to reach several thousand dollars and potentially over $15,000 depending on courses, fees, and pace.

Students should also budget about $1,000 to $3,000 for books, software, studio supplies, printing, laptop needs, materials, and portfolio expenses.

Program Length

The Foundation Level Certificate includes 17 required courses and 1 elective.

Full-time students may complete it in about 1.5 to 2 years, while part-time students may take longer.

Santa Monica College is a public community college located west of Los Angeles.

It is one of the strongest lower-cost options near LA for students who want interior architectural design training.

SMC can be a good fit for beginners who want public college pricing, studio coursework, and a pathway that is more directly connected to interior spaces than a general art program.

Programs Offered

Santa Monica College offers Interior Architectural Design programs through its Design Technology department.

Students can study interior architectural design fundamentals, space planning, drawing, presentation, materials, digital design, 3D modeling, residential and commercial interiors, and portfolio development.

SMC also offers stackable certificate options, which can help students build skills gradually before deciding whether to complete a longer associate degree or transfer.

Tuition and Cost

California community college enrollment fees are commonly about $46 per unit for California residents.

A certificate may cost about $1,000 to $3,000 in enrollment fees before campus fees, books, and supplies.

A 60-unit associate pathway may cost about $2,760 in enrollment fees before additional costs.

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

Program Length

Certificate options may take about 1 year.

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

Los Angeles Mission College is a public community college in Sylmar and part of the Los Angeles Community College District.

It is one of the most direct community college interior design options in the LA system.

This can be a good choice for students who want a lower-cost associate degree or certificate focused specifically on interior design.

Programs Offered

Los Angeles Mission College offers associate degree and certificate programs in Interior Design.

Students may study design fundamentals, space planning, color, materials, finishes, lighting, drafting, CAD, drawing, presentation, residential interiors, commercial interiors, and portfolio development.

The program is designed to support both transfer goals and entry-level interior design preparation.

It is more focused on interiors than a general art or architecture foundation program.

Tuition and Cost

As a California community college, LA Mission is usually one of the most affordable interior design routes in Los Angeles.

California resident enrollment fees are typically about $46 per unit.

A 60-unit associate degree may cost about $2,760 in enrollment fees before local fees, books, and materials.

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

Program Length

Certificate programs may take about 1 year.

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

Otis College of Art and Design is a private art and design college in Los Angeles.

Its Extension division offers an Interior Design Certificate that can be useful for adults and career changers who want professional design training without enrolling in a full undergraduate degree.

This is a good fit for students who want a design-school environment, portfolio development, and a certificate that covers both creative and technical interior design skills.

Programs Offered

Otis Extension offers an Interior Design Certificate.

Students study spatial design, drafting, space planning, 3D modeling, lighting, surface materials, furniture selection, digital design, and professional design concepts.

The program is offered online or in a hybrid format, which makes it practical for students who need flexibility.

It is more structured than a short decorating class and is useful for students who want to build a portfolio while learning interior design fundamentals.

Tuition and Cost

The estimated tuition for the Otis Interior Design Certificate is around $10,000.

Students should also budget for books, software, laptop needs, supplies, printing, samples, and portfolio materials.

Extra costs may add about $500 to $2,000 depending on course requirements and how much software or equipment the student already has.

Program Length

The certificate is designed to take about 2 to 3 years.

Glendale Community College is a public community college in Glendale, just north of Los Angeles.

It is a practical option for students who want interior architecture and design training at a community college price.

The program is especially useful for students who live in the San Fernando Valley, Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, or northeast Los Angeles.

Programs Offered

GCC offers an Interior Architecture & Design certificate.

Students study interior design concepts, client needs, design theory, presentation skills, studio activities, space planning, drawing, and design solutions for interior spaces.

This is a good fit for students who want a shorter public college certificate rather than a full bachelor’s degree.

Students who want broader professional preparation should ask whether credits can apply toward transfer or a longer design pathway.

Tuition and Cost

California community college enrollment fees are commonly about $46 per unit for California residents.

A certificate may cost around $1,000 to $3,000 in enrollment fees before campus fees, books, software, materials, and supplies.

Students should budget about $500 to $1,500 for drawing tools, printing, supplies, computer needs, and project materials.

Program Length

Certificate programs may take about 1 year, depending on course load and scheduling.

Los Angeles City College is a public community college located in central Los Angeles.

It is not mainly a traditional interior design degree school, but it can be useful for students who want flexible online residential design training or AutoCAD certification from within the Los Angeles Community College District.

This option may work well for students who want practical software or residential design training before choosing a longer interiors program.

Programs Offered

LACC offers online Certified Residential Interior Designer training and AutoCAD certification training through career education options.

The residential design course may cover space planning, color, furniture, lighting, materials, client needs, project planning, and residential design business basics.

The AutoCAD course is useful for students who want digital drafting skills for floor plans, elevations, furniture layouts, kitchen and bath drawings, and construction documents.

Tuition and Cost

Online residential interior design training commonly costs about $2,000 to $3,000.

AutoCAD certification training may also cost a few thousand dollars depending on package and exam voucher inclusion.

Students should budget about $100 to $1,000 for books, optional materials, computer needs, software access, and practice supplies.

Program Length

Online residential design training is usually self-paced and may take about 6 to 12 months.

AutoCAD training is also usually self-paced and may take several months.

Fullerton College is a public community college in Orange County, southeast of Los Angeles.

It is not inside LA, but it is one of the stronger nearby public college interior design options for students willing to commute or compare programs outside the city.

It can be a good fit for students who want a more complete community college interiors pathway.

Programs Offered

Fullerton College offers Interior Design certificate options, including an Interior Design Assistant Certificate and a Residential Interior Design Certificate.

Students may study design fundamentals, drafting, space planning, color, materials, lighting, textiles, furniture, residential interiors, presentation methods, and portfolio skills.

The Residential Interior Design Certificate builds on the assistant-level certificate and includes more advanced interior design coursework.

This makes it a useful option for students who want more than a short online course but still want community college pricing.

Tuition and Cost

California resident community college enrollment fees are usually about $46 per unit.

The Residential Interior Design Certificate requires roughly 50 to 54 units, placing base enrollment fees around $2,300 to $2,500 before local fees, books, software, supplies, and materials.

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

Program Length

The certificate may take about 2 years, depending on course load and schedule.

Interior Designers Institute is a private interior design school located in Newport Beach, about 45 to 60 miles from Los Angeles depending on traffic.

It is not in LA, but it is relevant for students who want a dedicated interior design school in Southern California and are willing to commute or relocate.

Programs Offered

Interior Designers Institute offers certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s programs in interior design.

Students may study design fundamentals, space planning, drafting, CAD, lighting, materials, textiles, furniture, residential design, commercial design, professional practice, and portfolio development.

Because IDI is focused specifically on interior design, it may be a good fit for students who want a dedicated interiors environment rather than a general art, architecture, or community college program.

Tuition and Cost

As a private school, IDI is usually much more expensive than a California community college.

Costs vary by credential, but students should expect certificate and degree programs to cost several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars depending on program level and length.

Students should also budget about $1,000 to $3,000 per year for software, supplies, printing, studio materials, samples, laptop needs, and portfolio work.

Program Length

Certificate programs may take about 1 to 2 years.

Associate degrees are usually about 2 years. Bachelor’s degrees are usually about 4 years.