6 Best Interior Design Schools in Washington, DC

George Washington University is a private research university in Washington, DC.

Its Corcoran School of the Arts and Design offers the city’s most direct professional interior architecture degree.

The program is a strong fit for students who want intensive studio work, access to major architecture and design firms, and opportunities to study government, hospitality, workplace, retail, and institutional interiors.

It is the only CIDA-accredited interior design program located within Washington, DC.

Programs Offered

GW offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture.

Students study three-dimensional environments, design concepts, drawing, digital visualization, materials, lighting, building systems, furniture, sustainability, construction documents, and professional practice.

Students who complete the BFA can apply for an additional year of study leading to a Master of Arts in Interior Architecture.

GW also offers graduate interior architecture routes for students with design backgrounds and career changers who earned bachelor’s degrees in other subjects.

Tuition and Cost

Undergraduate tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is approximately $72,000 before housing, meals, fees, transportation, and personal expenses.

Interior architecture students should also budget about $1,000 to $4,000 per year for a suitable laptop, software, printing, studio supplies, models, samples, and portfolio production.

Program Length

The BFA normally takes about 4 years.

The post-professional MA is a 30-credit, 1-year program, while other graduate pathways may take longer.

Marymount University is a private university in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC.

It offers one of the area’s strongest professional interior architecture and design programs.

Marymount may be a good fit for students who prefer smaller studio classes, an interdisciplinary curriculum, and required internship experience with firms in the Washington metropolitan area.

Programs Offered

Marymount offers a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture + Design.

The CIDA-accredited program includes construction documents, lighting design, textiles, finish materials, freehand drafting, user-centered design, sustainability, business procedures, Revit, digital fabrication, and professional practice.

Every student completes an internship and a senior capstone.

Marymount also offers first-professional and post-professional master’s programs in Interior Architecture + Design.

Tuition and Cost

Marymount’s part-time undergraduate tuition for 2026-2027 is $1,433 per credit, with additional technology, health, new-student, and course fees.

Full-time private university costs can reach several tens of thousands of dollars per year before housing and other living expenses.

Interior design courses may carry individual studio fees, and students should budget another $1,000 to $3,000 per year for software, printing, tools, samples, laptop requirements, and portfolio materials.

Program Length

The bachelor’s degree normally takes about 4 years.

Graduate programs may take approximately 1 to 3 years, depending on whether the student already has a professional design degree.

Montgomery College is a public community college in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Its Interior Design Program is primarily based at the Rockville Campus, within commuting distance of Washington, DC.

This is one of the area’s best lower-cost options for students seeking an associate degree, focused certificate, portfolio preparation, or a transfer route into a 4-year interior design program.

Programs Offered

Montgomery College offers an Interior Design AAS with a general concentration and an Interior Design Preprofessional AAS with a Kitchen and Bath Design concentration.

It also offers an active Interior Design Certificate.

Coursework includes design principles, technical drawing, drafting, color, space planning, materials, lighting, furniture, office design, kitchen and bath planning, specifications, presentation methods, and business practices.

The program maintains transfer relationships with schools including Marymount and George Washington University.

Tuition and Cost

For 2026-2027, Montgomery County residents pay approximately $2,769 in tuition and fees for a 15-credit semester.

Maryland residents from outside the county pay about $5,343, while non-Maryland residents pay approximately $7,341.

Students should also budget about $500 to $2,000 per year for books, drafting equipment, software, printing, finish samples, and project materials.

Program Length

An associate degree normally takes about 2 years.

Certificate completion time depends on the number of courses taken each semester, but many students finish in about 1 to 2 years.

Northern Virginia Community College is a public community college system serving the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC.

Its direct Interior Design program is offered at the Loudoun Campus.

NOVA is a practical choice for students who want career-focused residential and commercial design training at a community college price.

Programs Offered

NOVA offers a 61- to 62-credit Associate of Applied Science in Interior Design.

Students study interior design fundamentals, art and furniture history, residential design, contract design, space planning, lighting, building codes, kitchen and bath design, materials, CAD, hand drafting, rendering, business, and portfolio preparation.

The program is designed for roles such as design assistant, junior designer, kitchen and bath designer, furniture sales specialist, or manufacturer’s representative.

Tuition and Cost

For 2026-2027, Virginia residents pay approximately $232.05 per credit when standard fees and the default course-material program are included.

A 61-credit degree would therefore cost roughly $14,000 in tuition and standard fees before supplies.

Out-of-state students pay approximately $480.40 per credit.

Interior design students should allow another $500 to $2,000 per year for software, drafting equipment, samples, printing, and project materials.

Program Length

The associate degree is designed to take about 2 years of full-time study.

The University of the District of Columbia is Washington’s public university.

It does not offer a traditional interior design degree, but its Urban Architecture program is a strong local alternative for students interested in interior architecture, sustainable design, adaptive reuse, and complete building environments.

Programs Offered

UDC offers a 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Architecture.

Students study architectural design, urban environments, sustainability, building systems, technical communication, design research, and the relationship between architecture and community planning.

The university also offers an Associate of Applied Science in Architectural Engineering Technology through UDC Community College.

That program is more technical and can help students build skills in drafting, construction documents, building technology, and architectural office support.

Tuition and Cost

For a 12-credit semester, undergraduate engineering students who are DC residents pay approximately $4,570 in tuition and mandatory fees.

Metropolitan-area residents pay about $5,230, while nonresidents pay approximately $9,130.

The architecture program states that tuition and fees cover general supplies and specialized materials, although students may still need to budget for personal computer equipment, software, models, printing, and portfolio production.

Program Length

The Bachelor of Science in Architecture requires 120 credits and normally takes about 4 years.

The architectural engineering associate degree generally takes about 2 years.

The Catholic University of America is a private university in Washington’s Brookland neighborhood.

Its School of Architecture and Allied Arts is relevant for students who want building-centered spatial design rather than a conventional residential decorating program.

Programs Offered

Catholic University offers a 126-credit Bachelor of Science in Architecture.

The curriculum combines architectural studios with design fundamentals, history, sustainability, urbanism, technology, liberal arts, digital tools, and fabrication.

Students have access to equipment such as laser cutters and 3D printers.

Interior design students may find the program useful for adaptive reuse, commercial spaces, furniture, exhibition environments, spatial planning, and interior architecture.

The university also offers an Architectural Studies degree for students who want a broader and less professionally structured design path.

Tuition and Cost

As a private university, Catholic University charges several tens of thousands of dollars per year before housing, meals, fees, and personal expenses.

Architecture students should also plan for approximately $1,000 to $3,000 per year in software, computer equipment, printing, models, fabrication supplies, and studio materials.

Program Length

The Bachelor of Science in Architecture requires 126 credits and takes about 4 years.

Students pursuing professional architecture licensure may need to continue into a professional graduate architecture program.