2027 Best Value Interior Design Schools in the Southeast Region
[Interior Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/design-and-applied-arts/interior-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 46 schools to find the best return on investment for interior design students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Interior Design Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in interior design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Interior Design Schools
Leading the list is Central Piedmont Community College, our #1 best value for interior design in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $30,979 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
University Of Florida came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $19,839. Early-career interior design graduates make about $43,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Chattahoochee Technical College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College generally make around $44,673. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in interior design will find it at Florida State College At Jacksonville, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the interior design program here. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $44,082. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.
Miami Dade College landed the #6 spot for interior design value this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $11,967. Early-career interior design graduates make about $30,466. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pellissippi State Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,770. Students borrow a median of $8,951 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $43,816 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gwinnett Technical College came in at #8 for value in interior design this year. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,524, while out-of-state students pay about $6,092. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $18,997. Interior Design graduates of Gwinnett Technical College earn a median of $32,851 early in their careers. Set against $18,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Forsyth Technical Community College earned the #9 position for value in interior design this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,276, with out-of-state students paying around $6,884. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $29,715 early in their careers. Set against $16,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palm Beach State College landed the #10 spot for interior design value this year. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Students from in state pay about $3,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $12,518. Interior Design graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $36,768 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,518 median debt.
Athens Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Set in the city of Athens, Athens Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,390 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,958. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $9,500. Early-career interior design graduates make about $41,631. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College earned the #12 position for value in interior design this year. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $13,414. Early-career interior design graduates make about $32,153. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Randolph Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Asheboro. Students from in state pay about $2,416 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,176 for out-of-state students. Interior Design graduates of Randolph Community College earn a median of $32,198 early in their careers.
Seminole State College Of Florida ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $19,613 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $35,284 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,613 median debt.
Lanier Technical College came in at #15 for value in interior design this year. Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $3,980 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,190 for out-of-state students. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $12,278 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Lanier Technical College earn a median of $37,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,278 median debt.
Florida State University landed the #16 spot for interior design value this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $49,144 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Virginia Community College placed #17 among the best values for interior design. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. Interior Design graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $33,232 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #18 position for value in interior design this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $26,000. Early-career interior design graduates make about $38,858. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Cape Fear Community College landed the #19 spot for interior design value this year. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Students from in state pay about $2,748 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,892. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete the interior design program here. Early-career interior design graduates make about $42,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Kentucky University placed #20 among the best values for interior design. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Interior Design graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $44,778. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Valdosta State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value interior design schools. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $28,661. Early-career interior design graduates make about $44,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Valdosta State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Tidewater Community College placed #22 among the best values for interior design. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Students borrow a median of $10,195 to complete the interior design program here. Early-career interior design graduates make about $22,935. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Carolina University placed #23 among the best values for interior design. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,911 to complete the interior design program here. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $32,842. Set against $29,911 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #24 spot for interior design value this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete the interior design program here. Interior Design graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $38,807 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,754 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University earned the #25 position for value in interior design this year. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for interior design graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, interior design degree recipients from Georgia Southern University generally make around $45,531. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 46 Best Value Interior Design Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s interior design value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 46 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.
