Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Interior designer/project manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an interior designer/project manager. Interior designer/project managers usually study interior design, architecture, or business. 73% of interior designer/project managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,282 real interior designer/project manager resumes to see exactly what interior designer/project manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for interior designer/project managers are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
There are also many online interior designer/project manager courses to help get the education required to be an interior designer/project manager.
There are certain interior designer/project manager certifications that you should consider. These interior designer/project manager certifications include Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ) and National Council Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ).
What education do you need to become an interior designer/project manager?
What degree do you need to be an interior designer/project manager?
- Bachelor's, 73%
- Associate, 15%
- Master's, 9%
- Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become an interior designer/project manager?
- Interior Design, 59%
- Architecture, 8%
- Business, 7%
- Other Majors, 20%
Most common colleges for interior designer/project managers
| Interior designer/project manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 14.29% |
| New York School of Interior Design | 9.52% |
| Michigan State University | 5.95% |
| Boston University | 4.76% |
| Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-San Francisco | 4.76% |
Best majors for interior designer/project managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interior Design | 58.9% |
| 2 | Architecture | 7.7% |
| 3 | Business | 6.7% |
| 4 | Interior Architecture | 5.8% |
| 5 | Fine Arts | 5.6% |
Best colleges for interior designer/project managers
The best colleges for interior designer/project managers are Cornell University, Yale University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
An interior designer/project manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for interior designer/project managers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become interior designer/project managers.
1. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
2. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
3. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$10,595
Enrollment
30,184
4. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
7. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
8. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
9. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$12,424
Enrollment
15,201
10. Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$9,080
Enrollment
30,795
20 best online courses for interior designer/project managers
Advertising disclosure
1. Mastering Construction/Project Management
Mastering Construction-Project Management in less than 10 Hours...
2. Construction Project Scheduling
Learn the tools and techniques used by construction management professionals to ensure projects finish on time...
3. Project Management Course: Master Project Scope Management
Practical guide to scope development and management - Project Management Certification (PMP, CAPM) Training [Earn 11PDU]...
4. Construction Procurement Management
A course on procurement designed for engineers new to the infrastructure/construction industry...
5. Project Management: Master Project Management - PMP/PMI
Master Project Management using this practical certification course...
6. Project Management Fundamentals
Practical Project Management worked example using Gantt Charts, PMI, PMP, APM...
7. Project Management Office (PMO) Setup Guide
PMO Step-by-Step Implementation Plan...
8. Project Management Essentials
A crash course in the essentials of project management for new project managers...
9. Agile Crash Course: Agile Project Management; Agile Delivery
Agile Project Management Basics (Scrum) & Agile Project Management Essentials (Scrum). Plus Agile Certification (Scrum)...
10. Project Management: Simple Software Project Management
Project Management for NEW Project Managers - knowledge, tools, techniques, skills, checklists, guidelines, pitfalls...
11. Project Management Fundamentals: Run projects effectively
Learn how to effectively analyze, plan, execute, and manage projects that consistently accomplish company objectives...
12. Beginning Project Management: Project Management Level One
Project Management: Growing a Successful Career as a Project Manager...
13. Project Management: Becoming a Successful Project manager
Project Management...
14. Practical Project Management for Management Consultants
How to manage successfully a consulting project - a practical guide for Project Managers...
15. Project Management Essentials: Ace Your Next Project!
The Missing Toolkit for Truly Effective, Everyday Project Management Project Management Basics for Everyone...
16. Master Course in Project Management 2.0
Project Management, PMP, Agile project management, Project manager, Prince2, Scrum, Project Planning, Project risk cost...
17. Project Management - Complete Guide For A+ Project Managers
Complete guide to project management - stakeholders, planning, cost, quality, risks, feasibility, methods & resourcing...
18. Project Management: Getting Started and Beyond
Real World Project Management: Become a Better Project Manager...
19. Mastering Interior Design Styles
Criteria and Characteristics Of Different Interior Design Styles Simplified...
20. Professional Diploma in Project Management
Introduction to main areas and tools of project management...
Top 10 most affordable universities for interior designer/project managers
The most affordable schools for interior designer/project managers are Fashion Institute of Technology, brigham young university, and florida international university.
If the best universities for interior designer/project managers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for interior designer/project managers.
1. Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$5,740
Cost of attendance
17,864
2. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
3. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
4. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
6. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
7. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
8. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Cost of attendance
25,275
9. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
10. California State University - Sacramento
Sacramento, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,310
Cost of attendance
19,807
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for interior designer/project managers
The hardest universities for interior designer/project managers to get into are Cornell University, Yale University, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for interior designer/project managers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for interior designer/project managers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
2. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
6. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
Admissions rate
39%
SAT average
1,367
7. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,465
8. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
9. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,390
10. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,448
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for interior designer/project managers
The easiest schools for interior designer/project managers to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, university of the incarnate word, and la roche college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an interior designer/project manager without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for interior designer/project managers.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
3. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
4. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,061
5. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
6. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
7. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
8. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
9. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
10. Lamar University
Beaumont, TX • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,043
Average interior designer/project manager salary by education level
| Interior designer/project manager education level | Interior designer/project manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $80,677 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $75,508 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $67,134 |
Interior designer/project manager education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for interior designer/project manager jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025