“California's most intimate CIDA-accredited interior design school, training the next generation of designers in Newport Beach since 1984.”
The Interior Designers Institute (IDI) is California's most focused dedicated interior design school, founded in 1984 in Newport Beach, CA. Serving students exclusively committed to interior design as a professional career, IDI offers a comprehensive curriculum ladder from entry-level 12-week certificates through an accredited bachelor's and a master's degree in interior architecture. The Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design holds CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) accreditation — the highest professional credential in the field — alongside institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). With an enrollment of under 100 students and a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, IDI delivers a level of personalized mentorship and studio-based instruction rarely found at larger institutions. IDI's program ladder reflects the full professional arc of an interior design career. The 12-week Certificate in Interior Design provides a rapid foundation in residential and commercial design principles suited to career changers and design enthusiasts. The Associate of Arts and CIDA-accredited Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design build systematic mastery in space planning, technical drawing, material and furniture specification, and computer-aided design. At the graduate level, the Master of Interior Architecture prepares students for advanced leadership in high-end residential, commercial, hospitality, and healthcare design. Graduates of the BA and MIA programs are eligible to sit for the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) examination — the industry's professional licensing standard. Located at 1061 Camelback Street in Newport Beach, IDI places students at the center of Southern California's affluent design market. The campus sits minutes from the Laguna Design Center and Stonemill Design Center, major industry trade showrooms where students gain real-world exposure to materials, furnishings, and professional vendors. Newport Beach's luxury residential market and proximity to Los Angeles's commercial design ecosystem give IDI graduates exceptional internship and career access. The school reports an 88% graduation rate and median alumni earnings of approximately $55,000 at 10 years post-enrollment, reflecting strong professional outcomes in a specialized and in-demand field.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Free — No test scores needed — they won't be reviewed even if submitted.
Official SourceRolling Admission
IDI admits students on a rolling basis for each program intake. Contact admissions for current start dates.
This university does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$20,250
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Certificate, associate, bachelor's (CIDA-accredited), and master's programs in interior design and interior architecture, covering residential, commercial, hospitality, and healthcare design.
4 years
A CIDA-accredited professional bachelor's degree providing mastery in space planning, material selection, technical drawing, and design software, qualifying graduates to sit the NCIDQ licensing exam.
1 years
A 12–15 month graduate program preparing experienced designers for leadership in high-end residential, commercial, hospitality, and healthcare environments.
A 12-week foundational program in residential and commercial interior design principles — ideal for career changers and industry professionals seeking formal credentials.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $20,250
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
