2026 Best Value Interior Design Schools in New Jersey

[Interior Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/interior-design/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value interior design schools.
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2026 Best Value Interior Design Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in interior design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Interior Design Schools
For return on investment in interior design, no school beat Raritan Valley Community College this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,664, compared with $7,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,668 to complete the interior design program here. Early-career interior design graduates make about $47,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Brookdale Community College one of the best values for interior design. Brookdale Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Kean University one of the best values for interior design. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $26,713. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $35,673. That is a strong return on a $26,713 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in interior design, landing the #4 spot this year. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the interior design program here. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $38,975. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
Berkeley College Woodland Park came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value interior design schools. Berkeley College Woodland Park is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Woodland Park. In-state tuition and fees average $28,320. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $23,949 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $27,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.