Interior Design Degree in New York, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Interior Design degree analysis for New York, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$94K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$116K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in New York
Cost of Living
187.2
index (100 = avg)
Interior Design in New York, NY Overview
New York is one of New York's top college towns, with 279 institutions and a student population of 418,559. Public tuition averages $10,200/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Interior Design enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Space Planning and AutoCAD. The adjusted starting salary in New York is approximately $93,600.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
279
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,701/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,243/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
59%
Interior Design Salary in New York (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New York's cost of living index of 187.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Interior Design salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.New York adjustment factor: 1.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Interior Design ROI Calculator for New York
Estimate your return on investment for a Interior Design degree using local New York tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $42,000
New York avg aid: $8,243/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,604
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$28,080
vs HS diploma in New York
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in New York
$445,996
Lifetime earnings premium ($561,600) minus total education cost ($115,604)
Student Loan Payoff for Interior Design in New York
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New York for Interior Design
New York State University
public
$9,794/yr
$39,176 total
University of New York
public
$10,109/yr
$40,436 total
New York Institute of Technology
private
$38,089/yr
$152,356 total
New York University - New York
public
$10,609/yr
$42,436 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
New York Community College
$7,506/yr
New York Technical College - New York
$8,204/yr
Top Employers for Interior Design in New York
New York offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Interior Design graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New York Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Interior Design Job Titles
Interior Design in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$83K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$73K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$61K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$71K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$76K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$73K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$70K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Huntington, NY
$68K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in New York
UX Design
$94K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$109K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$94K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$94K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$90K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$94K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$94K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts
$94K starting · 9 yr ROI
Interior Design Degree in New York — 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 New York.