by our College Data Analytics TeamInterior Design degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 42 schools to find the best for interior design students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall interior design education in California.
No school ranked higher than San Jose State University this year for interior design. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 interior design students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. Read more about the interior design program at San Jose State University
San Francisco State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in interior design, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 52 interior design degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $34,845. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree. See the full interior design program report for San Francisco State University
Students looking for a strong interior design program will find one at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #3. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 interior design students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their interior design degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $37,395 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,215. Get the full interior design details for California State University Long Beach
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best interior design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. About 19 interior design degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Graduates of the interior design program make about $80,047 in their early career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. See the full interior design program report for Santa Rosa Junior College
California State University Northridge is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in interior design, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. About 13 interior design degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Students who receive their interior design degree from California State University Northridge earn around $36,736 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,202. See the full interior design program report for California State University Northridge
Orange Coast College landed the #6 spot for interior design this year. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. About 48 interior design degrees were awarded at Orange Coast College in the most recent year. Interior Design graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in interior design from Orange Coast College
California State University Fresno came in at #7 for interior design this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Fresno awarded about 12 interior design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the interior design program make about $23,160 in their early career. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $24,410 in student loans. Read more about the interior design program at California State University Fresno
California Baptist University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best interior design schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Riverside. California Baptist University graduates 62% of students within six years. About 14 interior design degrees were awarded at California Baptist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the interior design program make about $28,669 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,487 to complete this degree. Read more about the interior design program at California Baptist University
Saddleback College earned the #9 position for interior design this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. About 66 interior design degrees were awarded at Saddleback College in the most recent year. Interior Design graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Saddleback College graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. See the full interior design program report for Saddleback College
Mt San Antonio College earned the #10 position for interior design this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 48 interior design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Get the full interior design details for Mt San Antonio College
Santa Monica College landed the #11 spot for interior design this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 83 interior design degrees were awarded at Santa Monica College in the most recent year. Get the full interior design details for Santa Monica College
Santa Barbara City College placed #12 among the best interior design schools. Located in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public university. Santa Barbara City College awarded about 11 interior design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their interior design degree from Santa Barbara City College earn around $68,184 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Barbara City College graduates carry a median of $21,090 in student loans. Read more about the interior design program at Santa Barbara City College
College Of The Canyons landed the #13 spot for interior design this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. There were roughly 28 interior design students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Canyons in the most recent data year. Graduates of the interior design program make about $51,913 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in interior design from College Of The Canyons
Palomar College earned the #14 position for interior design this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. About 17 interior design degrees were awarded at Palomar College in the most recent year. Get the full interior design details for Palomar College
West Valley College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best interior design schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Saratoga. About 28 interior design degrees were awarded at West Valley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their interior design degree from West Valley College earn around $25,378 in the first couple years of their career. West Valley College graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. See the full interior design program report for West Valley College
City College Of San Francisco earned the #16 position for interior design this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. About 13 interior design degrees were awarded at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Interior Design graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,332. Read more about the interior design program at City College Of San Francisco
Las Positas College earned the #17 position for interior design this year. This large public university is located in the city of Livermore. Las Positas College awarded about 13 interior design degrees in the most recent data year. See the full interior design program report for Las Positas College
Fullerton College came in at #18 for interior design this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public university. There were roughly 16 interior design students who graduated with this degree at Fullerton College in the most recent data year. Read more about the interior design program at Fullerton College
Canada College landed the #19 spot for interior design this year. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. There were roughly 38 interior design students who graduated with this degree at Canada College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Canada College generally make around $106,691. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. Get the full interior design details for Canada College
San Diego Mesa College earned the #20 position for interior design this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 interior design students who graduated with this degree at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their interior design degree from San Diego Mesa College earn around $29,852 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,999. More information about a degree in interior design from San Diego Mesa College
Newschool Of Architecture And Design landed the #21 spot for interior design this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 interior design students who graduated with this degree at Newschool Of Architecture And Design in the most recent data year. Students who receive their interior design degree from Newschool Of Architecture And Design earn around $37,132 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $39,251 to complete this degree. Read more about the interior design program at Newschool Of Architecture And Design
American River College placed #22 among the best interior design schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Sacramento. There were roughly 15 interior design students who graduated with this degree at American River College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their interior design degree from American River College earn around $76,077 in the first couple years of their career. American River College graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. More information about a degree in interior design from American River College
Chaffey College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best interior design schools. Chaffey College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga. About 37 interior design degrees were awarded at Chaffey College in the most recent year. Graduates of the interior design program make about $23,532 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete this degree. Read more about the interior design program at Chaffey College
Design Institute Of San Diego landed the #24 spot for interior design this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Design Institute Of San Diego is a small private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 30 interior design degrees were awarded at Design Institute Of San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Design Institute Of San Diego generally make around $34,589. Students borrow a median of $45,687 to complete this degree. Get the full interior design details for Design Institute Of San Diego
Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles landed the #25 spot for interior design this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles is a small private for-profit university. Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles awarded about 19 interior design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles generally make around $25,436. Typical student debt for the program is $21,833. See the full interior design program report for Fidm Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising Los Angeles
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong interior design education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 42 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.