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Interior design sets the tone of any building and business.
It is a science to understand how people perceive and feel interior arrangements.
In the same sense, it is an art.
It expresses a business aesthetic in a visually pleasing manner.
True interior design allows people to gain a sense of belonging and comfort in an establishment.
The concentration has grown in popularity and has many places for people to study it.
Article Table of Contents
Massachusetts’ Requirements for Interior Designers
If you are a creative who enjoys interior design, there may be some requirements to become a certified professional.
In Massachusetts, you are not legally required to become a licensed interior designer.
However, you are not allowed to claim you are a certified interior designer without following multiple steps.
Earn an Associate’s Degree
First, you must earn your associate’s degree in interior design or a related field.
Gain Four Years of Experience
Once you have a degree, you need at least four years of experience working for an interior design or architecture company.
Take the NCIDQ Exams
You must take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exams to be a certified interior designer.
This test is through the Council for Interior Design Qualification or the CIDQ.
If you receive your bachelor’s degree instead of your associate’s, you are only required to have two years of work experience to take the NCIDQ exam.
5 Interior Design Schools In Massachusetts
Endicott College
Endicott College is a private college located in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Their interior design BFA program is a four-year degree with the opportunity to gain your master’s with one additional year.
They give their students access to a rigid classroom experience and many internships.
Their program allows students to gain hands-on experience that they would not be able to receive anywhere else.
Endicott College costs, on average, 36,000 dollars per year without including financial aid or scholarships.
Suffolk University
Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts, has a four-year BFA degree in interior design.
The program allows students to be immediately eligible for the NCIDQ.
The interior design program offers an in-depth program that focuses on 2 and 3-dimensional design software, furniture placement, and lighting.
It also has a master’s program in interior design, available at a part-time or full-time pace.
Suffolk University is a private university whose tuition is about 31,000 dollars per year before financial aid or scholarships.
Bay Path University
In Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Bay Path University offers an interior design program as a science rather than fine art.
It is a four-year bachelor’s degree that focuses on commercial and residential interior design.
Bay Path’s program allows students to help homeowners and businesses with their interior design needs.
It is a private university with a tuition of 22,000 dollars per academic year without including aid.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth or UMass Dartmouth is located in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
It is one of the only public university options for an interior design four-year bachelor’s degree in the area.
It is a bachelor’s of science and accredited by the CIDQ.
The program is dedicated to hands-on experience.
The students at UMass Dartmouth build their portfolios and have access to internships for workplace experience.
They also learn about technologies that are vital for the interior design profession.
The yearly tuition before financial aid is 19,000 dollars.
Massachusetts Bay Community College
In Wellesley, Massachusetts resides Massachusetts Bay Community College or MassBay Community College.
Their interior design program is one year and is only a certificate program.
You will learn about colors, how to decorate, and building codes.
The program is short and allows you to study interior design in addition to another concentration.
MassBay is a public university that costs in-state students around 5,000 per year before financial aid.
Interior Design Schools in Massachusetts – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Endicott College | 376 Hale Street Beverly, MA 01915 |
| Suffolk University | 73 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02108 |
| Bay Path University | 588 Longmeadow Street Longmeadow, MA 01106 |
| University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | 285 Old Westport Road • Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | 50 Oakland St, Wellesley, MA 02481 |
Massachusetts’ Interior Designers Average Salary
In Massachusetts, the average salary for an interior designer is 54,948 dollars per year.
How much an interior designer makes annually is correlated with their years of experience, education, and any additional certificates they hold.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Boston | $54,948 |
| Worcester | $51,354 |
| Springfield | $50,598 |
| Lowell | $53,158 |
| Cambridge | $54,948 |
| Brockton | $52,817 |
| New Bedford | $51,403 |
| Fall River | $51,403 |
| Lynn | $54,948 |
| Quincy | $54,948 |
Regional Salary in Massachusetts
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | 80 | $73,980 | $35.57 | $116,440 | $41,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 1,650 | $78,250 | $37.62 | $111,400 | $49,590 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 70 | $63,390 | $30.48 | $100,190 | $38,530 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 40 | $76,960 | $37 | $106,300 | $48,220 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Sources
- https://www.cidq.org/dates-fees-forms
- https://www.baypath.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/residential-commercial-interior-design/
- https://www.massbay.edu/business/interior-design
- https://www.suffolk.edu/cas/degrees-programs/art-design/graduate/master-of-arts-in-interior-architecture
- https://www.umassd.edu/programs/interior-architecture-design/
- https://www.smma.com/insight/argument-recognition
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of being an interior designer in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a higher average annual salary for interior designers than the rest of the United States.
The state has a strong job market for interior designers and has one of the most established cities in the States, Boston.
With the rich history of Massachusetts, the finely aged architecture, the inspiration never stops, along with the growing need for interior comfort in establishments.
Are there any fees to obtain my interior design certificate in Massachusetts?
Yes.
There is a 225 dollar application fee and additional fees for the exam.
There are three different exams through the CIDQ.
- The Fundamental Exam or IDFX costs 295 dollars.
- The Professional Exam or IDPX costs 355 dollars.
- The Practicum Exam or PRAC costs 460 dollars.
Each test requires a different amount of work experience in addition to whichever degree a person holds.
All three tests are needed to be a certified interior designer in Massachusetts.
Do I have to renew my interior design certificate in Massachusetts?
To remain active by the standards of the CIDQ, you must renew your certificate every two years.
So, biannually you must pay a fee of 75 dollars and sign a code of ethics.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Certified Interior Designer
Interior Design Schools by State