Interior Design Degree in Baton Rouge, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Interior Design degree analysis for Baton Rouge, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.6 yrs
in Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Interior Design in Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pop. 227,470) has 16 colleges offering Interior Design programs. The local cost of living index of 82 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $871/month. Interior Design enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Space Planning and AutoCAD. The adjusted starting salary in Baton Rouge is approximately $41,000.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$9,889/yr
Private Tuition
$38,908/yr
Room & Board
$13,546/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,166/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Interior Design Salary in Baton Rouge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baton Rouge's cost of living index of 82 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Interior Design salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Baton Rouge adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Interior Design ROI Calculator for Baton Rouge
Estimate your return on investment for a Interior Design degree using local Baton Rouge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,889 | Private avg: $38,908
Baton Rouge avg aid: $9,166/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,300
vs HS diploma in Baton Rouge
ROI Payback Period
7.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baton Rouge
$152,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($246,000) minus total education cost ($93,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Interior Design in Baton Rouge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baton Rouge for Interior Design
Louisiana State University
public
$11,962/yr
$47,848 total
Southern University
public
$7,816/yr
$31,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baton Rouge Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Interior Design in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Interior Design graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baton Rouge Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Interior Design Job Titles
Interior Design in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$40K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Baton Rouge
UX Design
$41K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$48K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$41K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$41K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$39K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts
$41K starting · 9 yr ROI
Interior Design Degree in Baton Rouge — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Interior Design ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Baton Rouge.