2026 Best Value Interior Design Schools in New York
[Interior Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/interior-design/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong interior design education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 14 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 York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in interior design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Interior Design Schools
Suffolk County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among interior design schools in New York. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Students borrow a median of $9,132 to complete the interior design program here. Early-career interior design graduates make about $24,907. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nassau Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in interior design, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $10,600 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $18,107 early in their careers. Set against $10,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in interior design will find it at Monroe Community College, which ranked #3. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the interior design program here. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $38,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in interior design will find it at Suny College At Buffalo, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,533, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $25,257. Early-career interior design graduates make about $39,412. Set against $25,257 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
Villa Maria College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value interior design schools. Set in the city of Buffalo, Villa Maria College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,670. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $15,395. Interior Design graduates of Villa Maria College earn a median of $31,909 early in their careers. Set against $15,395 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #6 spot for interior design value this year. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $20,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred placed #7 among the best values for interior design. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,892, with out-of-state students paying around $16,837. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $19,721 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $43,831. That is a strong return on a $19,721 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #8 spot for interior design value this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the interior design program here. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $34,709. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Marist College came in at #9 for value in interior design this year. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,620. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $26,929. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $60,521. That is a strong return on a $26,929 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Pratt Institute Main placed #10 among the best values for interior design. Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $61,845 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $19,000. Early-career interior design graduates make about $40,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
New York School Of Interior Design earned the #11 position for value in interior design this year. New York School Of Interior Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,130. Median earnings reach $48,041 ten years out. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
The New School placed #12 among the best values for interior design. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,730. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $23,606. Interior Design graduates of The New School earn a median of $36,279 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,606 median debt. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
School Of Visual Arts placed #13 among the best values for interior design. Set in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,400. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $32,155. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
