6 Best Interior Design Schools in St. Louis, MO

Maryville University is a private university in St. Louis County and one of the area’s strongest choices for a professional interior design education.

Its program combines creative studio work with architectural principles, building technology, research, and professional portfolio development.

Maryville’s interior design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

This makes it especially relevant for students who want an education aligned with professional interior design standards.

Programs Offered

Maryville offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design.

Students study space planning, architectural principles, human factors, color, lighting, materials, visualization, computer-aided design, building systems, and professional practices.

The program includes project-based courses, portfolio development, a senior exhibition, and a required capstone project.

Students interested in professional registration should verify current Missouri requirements and the education and work experience needed for the NCIDQ examination.

Tuition and Cost

For the 2026-2027 academic year, full-time tuition is approximately $25,766, with about $2,600 in university fees.

Students should also plan for housing, transportation, studio materials, printing, model-making supplies, and a computer capable of running design software.

Program Length

The BFA is normally completed in about 4 years.

Stevens – The Institute of Business & Arts, commonly called Siba, is a small private college located in downtown St. Louis.

It is a practical choice for students who want an accelerated interior design degree, small classes, and direct training in both residential and commercial design.

The program is particularly suitable for career changers and students who prefer a focused design college rather than a large university environment.

Programs Offered

Siba offers an Associate of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design.

Coursework includes residential design, commercial design, space planning, architectural graphics, lighting, textiles, materials, furniture, kitchen and bath design, healthcare facilities, environmental design, CAD, Revit, and portfolio preparation.

Students also study workplace design, interior renovation, window treatments, presentation techniques, and the history of architecture and design.

Tuition and Cost

Siba charges approximately $365 per quarter credit hour, plus a $125 application fee and a textbook or resource fee of about $250 per academic term.

The school locks tuition rates after enrollment, provided the student remains continuously enrolled.

The final program cost depends on the number of quarter credits required.

Students should also budget for computer equipment, drafting tools, software, printing, samples, and project materials.

Program Length

The associate degree can be completed in about 18 months.

The bachelor’s degree is designed to take approximately 36 months of full-time study.

St. Louis Community College is the most affordable direct interior design option in the area.

The program is offered at the Meramec campus in Kirkwood and is a strong fit for students seeking an associate degree, practical studio experience, or a lower-cost starting point before transferring.

Programs Offered

STLCC offers a 60-credit Associate in Applied Science in Interior Design.

The program combines visual art, architecture, technology, and space planning.

Students study color, lighting, materials, drafting, building codes, 3D modeling, presentation methods, and design software.

Programs used in the curriculum include AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and 20-20 design software.

Students can also complete a workplace learning experience under professional supervision.

Some interior design courses may transfer to bachelor’s programs, including Maryville University’s interior design program.

Tuition and Cost

For the 2026-2027 academic year, tuition is approximately $127 per credit for in-district students.

A 60-credit degree therefore has base tuition of about $7,620 before books, supplies, transportation, and special course expenses.

Out-of-district Missouri students pay about $176 per credit, while out-of-state students pay approximately $238 per credit.

Program Length

Full-time students can usually complete the AAS in about 2 years.

The program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Washington University is a private research university in St. Louis.

Its Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts does not offer a standard interior design degree, but it is one of the region’s strongest options for architecture, spatial design, adaptive reuse, fabrication, and the broader built environment.

This route is best for students who are more interested in architecture and interior architecture than residential decorating.

Programs Offered

The College of Architecture offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Architecture.

Students study architectural design studios, drawing, building systems, materials, environmental design, fabrication, digital modeling, architectural history, and urban context.

Interior design students may find the program especially relevant for commercial spaces, adaptive reuse, exhibition environments, furniture, installations, and building-centered design.

Students seeking a traditional interiors curriculum should compare it carefully with Maryville, Siba, or STLCC.

Tuition and Cost

Undergraduate tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is approximately $35,655 per semester, or $71,310 for two semesters.

Housing, meals, fees, books, and studio expenses are additional.

Architecture students should budget for a capable laptop, software, printing, model materials, fabrication supplies, and portfolio production.

Program Length

The BA and BS in Architecture normally take about 4 years.

Students pursuing professional architect licensure may need additional graduate education.

Ranken Technical College is a private nonprofit technical college located in St. Louis.

Its architecture programs are useful for students interested in the technical side of interior design, including drafting, construction documents, building systems, AutoCAD, Revit, and digital modeling.

Ranken is a better match for students interested in interior architecture or design documentation than for those seeking a decorating-focused curriculum.

Programs Offered

Ranken offers associate and bachelor’s degrees in Architectural Technology.

Students complete project-based training involving architectural design, technical drawing, building systems, construction methods, and design software.

Ranken also offers Building Systems Design Technology, a 4-semester program covering AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, and Bluebeam.

These tools are commonly used to prepare and coordinate technical documents for architecture, engineering, construction, and interior projects.

Tuition and Cost

Published estimated costs place the 4-semester Architectural Technology associate degree at approximately $39,058, including tuition, student fees, books, tools, and a laptop fee.

The 8-semester bachelor’s program has an estimated total cost of about $76,973.

Actual costs can change, and financial aid may reduce the amount paid directly by the student.

Program Length

The associate degree takes about 2 years.

The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology normally takes about 4 years.

St. Charles Community College is a public community college in Cottleville, approximately 35 miles west of downtown St. Louis.

It does not offer a complete interior design degree, but its Computer-Aided Drafting program is a useful technical option for students who want to create architectural drawings and digital building models.

Programs Offered

SCC offers an Associate of Applied Science in Computer-Aided Drafting, along with shorter CAD certificate options.

Students learn AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, Fusion, Inventor, SolidWorks, and other industry software.

The architectural portion of the program includes structural plans, building drawings, technical documentation, blueprint interpretation, and code-related concepts.

These skills can support interior floor plans, elevations, furniture layouts, cabinetry drawings, reflected ceiling plans, and construction documents.

Students who want extensive coursework in textiles, color, furniture, lighting, and residential design should use this program as a technical supplement or compare it with a direct interior design degree.

Tuition and Cost

As a public community college, SCC is generally less expensive than private schools.

Total tuition depends on residency, the number of credits, and whether the student completes a certificate or the full associate degree.

Students should also budget approximately $500 to $1,500 per year for books, software, drafting equipment, computer hardware, printing, and course fees.

Program Length

Certificates may take about 1 year, while the Associate of Applied Science usually takes about 2 years of full-time study.