5 Best Interior Design Schools in Tucson, AZ

Pima Community College is the most affordable local starting point for Tucson students interested in interior design.

While Pima does not currently advertise a standalone interior design associate degree, it offers both a Fine Arts transfer pathway and technical CAD programs that can support an interior design education.

This option is best for students who want to complete general education and foundational design courses locally before transferring, or for those who prefer the technical drawing and modeling side of interior design.

Programs Offered

Pima’s Associate of Fine Arts is a 2-year transfer degree that lists interior design among the bachelor’s degree pathways students may pursue after graduation.

The program includes Arizona General Education Curriculum requirements and allows students to build foundational art, design, historical, and visual communication skills.

Pima also offers an Associate of Applied Science in Computer-Aided Design. Students receive hands-on training in programs such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, SolidWorks, Creo, ArcGIS, and Civil 3D.

Interior design students can use these skills to create floor plans, elevations, furniture layouts, cabinetry drawings, 3D models, and construction documentation.

Tuition and Cost

For the 2026-2027 academic year, Arizona residents pay $103 per lower-division credit.

General tuition is capped at $1,545 for students taking 15 or more credits in one semester, although CAD courses carry additional differential tuition.

Students should also budget approximately $500 to $1,500 per year for software access, drawing supplies, printing, books, model materials, and computer equipment.

Program Length

The Associate of Fine Arts and Computer-Aided Design AAS are designed to take about 2 years of full-time study.

The University of Arizona is a public research university located in Tucson.

Its College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture does not offer a traditional interior design bachelor’s degree, but it is the strongest local university option for students interested in interior architecture, spatial design, adaptive reuse, sustainability, and building-centered design.

This route is better suited to students who want to understand complete buildings and interior environments rather than focus mainly on decorating, furnishings, or residential styling.

Programs Offered

The university offers a professional Bachelor of Architecture.

Students complete a studio-based curriculum covering architectural design, visual communication, construction, environmental systems, material research, digital fabrication, history, sustainability, and design-build projects.

Interior design students can develop relevant skills in space planning, circulation, lighting, building systems, materials, accessibility, construction documents, and adaptive reuse.

The degree is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board and is designed for students pursuing professional architectural practice.

Tuition and Cost

For 2026-2027, estimated tuition and fees are approximately $13,900 per year for Arizona residents and $44,400 for nonresidents.

The university estimates about $600 annually for general books, course materials, supplies, and equipment, although architecture students may spend considerably more on software, laptops, models, printing, and studio projects.

A reasonable additional studio budget is approximately $1,000 to $3,000 per year.

Program Length

The Bachelor of Architecture is a 5-year professional degree.

Its curriculum progresses through foundation, core, and advanced research and application studios.

Scottsdale Community College is approximately 2 hours from Tucson and offers one of Arizona’s strongest community college interior design programs.

It is a practical option for students willing to relocate or travel for a direct, career-focused interior design degree.

Programs Offered

SCC offers a 65- to 73-credit Associate in Applied Science in Interior Design.

Students study color theory, architectural and furniture history, space planning, drafting, CAD, interior materials, rendering, building codes, sustainability, lighting, acoustics, thermal comfort, and human factors.

Studio projects require students to research design problems and present complete solutions involving fixtures, furnishings, finishes, equipment, plans, sketches, and renderings.

Specialized certificates are also available in residential design, interior design technology, and kitchen and bath design.

Tuition and Cost

For courses beginning after July 1, 2026, most Arizona county residents pay $97 per lower-division credit.

Base tuition for a 65- to 73-credit degree would therefore be approximately $6,305 to $7,081 before registration fees, course fees, books, and supplies.

Students should also budget about $500 to $2,000 per year for software, drafting tools, material samples, printing, textbooks, and portfolio projects.

Program Length

The AAS is generally completed in about 2 years of full-time study.

Certificate length varies, with some focused pathways taking approximately 1 year.

Arizona State University offers one of the strongest professional interior design bachelor’s degrees in Arizona.

The program is based at the Tempe campus, roughly 2 hours from Tucson, and is a good fit for students seeking a comprehensive university education with studio courses, professional internships, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Programs Offered

ASU offers a Bachelor of Science in Design in Interior Design.

The CIDA-accredited program teaches residential and commercial design, spatial planning, building systems, lighting, materials, codes, accessibility, universal design, design history, theory, research, communication, and professional practice.

Students work on code-compliant and inclusive environments for sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, housing, workplaces, and civic institutions.

The program also includes internship experience and technical drafting responsibilities.

Tuition and Cost

For fall 2026, a full-time Arizona resident enrolled in a Design and the Arts program pays approximately $7,363 in tuition and mandatory fees for the semester.

Annual tuition and fees may therefore exceed $14,000 before housing, books, transportation, and studio expenses.

Interior design students should budget another $1,000 to $3,000 per year for software, laptop requirements, models, printing, materials, and portfolio production.

Program Length

The BSD requires at least 120 credit hours and normally takes about 4 years.

Northern Arizona University offers a direct professional interior design degree for students willing to study outside Tucson.

The program combines studio learning with technical construction knowledge, human-centered design, professional preparation, and portfolio development.

Programs Offered

NAU offers a 120-unit Bachelor of Science in Interior Design with 76 units of major requirements.

Students study design principles, color, residential and nonresidential design, human behavior, ergonomics, textiles, furniture, lighting, building systems, codes, construction, computer-aided design, business practices, and research methods.

The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.

It also includes field experience, internship preparation, and opportunities to participate in professional interior design organizations.

Tuition and Cost

For 2026-2027, estimated Flagstaff tuition and fees total approximately $14,377 for Arizona residents, $20,757 for Western Undergraduate Exchange students, and $32,757 for nonresidents.

These figures do not include housing, meals, transportation, or studio supplies.

Students should budget approximately $1,000 to $2,500 per year for software, laptop needs, drawing tools, printing, samples, models, and portfolio work.

Program Length

The BS in Interior Design requires 120 units and normally takes about 4 years of full-time study.