Interior Design Degree in Tulsa, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Interior Design degree analysis for Tulsa, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.4 yrs
in Tulsa
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Interior Design in Tulsa, OK Overview
Tulsa, Oklahoma (pop. 413,066) has 15 colleges offering Interior Design programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,113/month. Interior Design enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Space Planning and AutoCAD. The adjusted starting salary in Tulsa is approximately $42,000.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$6,582/yr
Private Tuition
$38,753/yr
Room & Board
$10,330/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,592/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
64%
Interior Design Salary in Tulsa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tulsa's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Interior Design salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Tulsa adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Interior Design ROI Calculator for Tulsa
Estimate your return on investment for a Interior Design degree using local Tulsa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,582 | Private avg: $38,753
Tulsa avg aid: $7,592/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$67,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,600
vs HS diploma in Tulsa
ROI Payback Period
5.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tulsa
$184,352
Lifetime earnings premium ($252,000) minus total education cost ($67,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Interior Design in Tulsa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tulsa for Interior Design
University of Tulsa
private
$44,726/yr
$178,904 total
Oral Roberts University
private
$32,780/yr
$131,120 total
Oklahoma State University-Tulsa
public
$6,582/yr
$26,328 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tulsa Community College
$3,558/yr
Top Employers for Interior Design in Tulsa
Tulsa offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Interior Design graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tulsa Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Interior Design Job Titles
Interior Design in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$49K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Norman, OK
$43K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$48K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Lawton, OK
$41K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$45K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$44K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Tulsa
UX Design
$42K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$49K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$42K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$42K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$40K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$42K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$42K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts
$42K starting · 9 yr ROI
Interior Design Degree in Tulsa — 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 Tulsa.