2026 Best Value Interior Design Schools in Pennsylvania

[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong interior design education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for interior design students.
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2026 Best Value Interior Design Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in interior design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Interior Design Schools
Lehigh Carbon Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value interior design schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $14,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $27,896. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northampton County Area Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in interior design, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $19,022 early in their careers. Set against $15,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in interior design, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $27,000. Early-career interior design graduates make about $34,981. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harcum College earned it the #4 place for interior design. Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. In-state tuition and fees average $32,000. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $26,756 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $40,238. That is a strong return on a $26,756 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mercyhurst College earned it the #5 place for interior design. Located in the city of Erie, Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,770. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Mercyhurst College generally make around $28,267. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value interior design schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $38,154. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Moore College Of Art And Design ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value interior design schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Moore College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,674. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career interior design graduates make about $20,587. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.