Interior Design

Associate Degree 7 months per semester

Online Interior Design Degree

If you've got an eye for design and love seeing a room come together through thoughtful color, furniture, and décor choices, Penn Foster's online Interior Design Degree can help you take the next steps toward a career you enjoy. Our flexible, self-paced program covers fundamental topics like color theory and residential design.

Graduates earn 45 credits toward the 60 credit requirement needed for National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Certification, which is currently required by nearly half of all states to work in the field.
Graduates of the program may apply for membership to the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).
Graduates may also submit Penn Foster transcripts to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) to receive education hours toward NKBA certification requirements.
Students receive a drawing tool kit as part of their program materials, at no additional cost.
Our online programs are flexible enough for you to finish them at a pace that works for you, based on how much time you can dedicate to your coursework each week.

Accredited

Online

Self Paced

First Semester

$1,249

$1,769 Save $520

$75/month, Start for as low as $20

Request Info Enroll Now

1-800-471-3232 (9AM - 9PM ET)

interior designer talks to client in a showroom.

What You Will Learn

How to understand and discuss the fundamental principles of the design process for residential and commercial design.
How to understand and use color theory to your advantage as a designer, including the different factors you should think about before starting your next project or design, along with an understanding of how you can use color to communicate to your viewers.
How to create basic interior drawings to demonstrate design concepts and ideas.
How to use AutoCAD® in the preparation of two-dimensional drawings.

Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Interior Design Career Outcomes

Interior Design Assistant

AVG SALARY*

$44,584/yr

NUMBER OF JOBS*

94,900

Our accredited, online Interior Design Degree Program is designed with job-readiness in mind, preparing students to take the next steps toward a career as an interior design assistant, residential designer, or visual merchandiser.

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in certain fields are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your program. See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.

Why Should I Get a Degree in Interior Design?

Interior Design Degree Curriculum

4 Semesters
67 credits

Estimated completion time per semester:

Fast track = 7 months
Average time = 11 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times per semester are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from November 2020 - October 2021, excluding withdrawals.

While taking courses in the accredited Interior Design Associate Degree, you'll learn the fundamental skills and design knowledge to take the next steps toward a career in the industry. Your online Interior Design classes include

Color Theory
Drawing for Interiors
Residential Design
Commercial Design

Show Full Curriculum

Interior Design Student Success Stories

Penn Foster's Interior Design Associate Degree graduates have started new careers, advanced in their current roles, started their own businesses, and more. Learn about their experiences here.

View Student Success Stories

Deulan M.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2023

“I was able to complete classes at my own pace with no stress or time limit. I had resources at my fingertips at any time. The work was much easier to learn for me and the tests were fun.”

Looking for training for your workers?

Penn Foster currently works with hundreds of leading employers to meet their unique organizational needs.

Learn More

Online Interior Design Degree Tuition

Take the first steps toward a new career with our affordable online Interior Design Degree. Simply choose from one of our low-cost customized payment plans below and get started today!

Option 1: Pay semester in full

First Semester¹

$1,249

$1,769 Save $520

Best price. Best value.
Pay the full cost today
No monthly payments

Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

First Semester¹

$1,649

$1,769 Save $120

Pay $75 per month
Start for $20 down
All major credit and debit cards accepted

Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

First semester¹

$1,769

Pay $75 per month
Start for $39 down
Mail your payments

Enroll Now

Our Proven Interior Design Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

Start any time
No exam due dates
Self-paced

Interactive

Digital study guides
Self-check quizzes
Webinars and discussion boards

Connected

24/7 access to online resources
Learning Resource Center and digital library
Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

Expert faculty
Dedicated student services
Robust learning resources

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Interior Design Degree FAQs

What qualifications do you need to be an interior designer?

To become an interior designer, you'll need relevant education and industry certifications. Most interior designers have a bachelor's degree and have earned NCIDQ certification. However, those with an Interior Design Associate Degree can get their foot in the door with an entry-level job as assistant designers, visual merchandisers, residential designers, and more.

How long does it take to become an interior designer?

Since interior designers need a relevant educational background and may be required to earn professional licensing after graduating, it can take a minimum of two years to become a designer. It also helps to start building your portfolio of past projects to show off to potential employers. You can even include some of the completed projects from the interior design courses at Penn Foster.

What is the average salary of an interior designer?

The national average salary for assistant interior designers was $44,584 in 2023, according to data from PayScale.¹ Salary for designers can vary based on where you live, your work experience, and a variety of other factors.

Can I learn interior design at home? Can I start my own interior design business?

Through Penn Foster's online Interior Design Degree, you can learn the skills and knowledge to become an interior designer from home, on your schedule! You'll also learn the basics of starting an interior design business through our Professional Practices course, including marketing and managing your business.

What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?

While the terms interior designer and interior decorator are often used interchangeably, they each have different job descriptions and duties. Interior designers are required to have more in-depth education and their duties can include making structural design changes and understanding building regulations and codes. Interior decorators, on the other hand, don't work with architects or other professionals to create new spaces, but instead, work with clients to decorate spaces that already exist.

Sources:

*Payscale. “Average Assistant Interior Designer Hourly Pay." Accessed November 12, 2024.

Statements found on Payscale are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create salary estimates includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.

**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. "Interior Designers." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed October 4, 2023.

Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.

Disclaimers:

¹ Depending on where you live, you may be charged taxes in addition to the total cost of your program.