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Being an interior designer is a very fulfilling career.
You can use your own creativity to make a space your own, and when you are working for others, you will be able to create spaces that are specifically for them.
This is because you are not only using your own creativity, but you are also creating beautiful things.
You are fulfilling your desires of how you want a space to look while also making someone else’s dream space a reality.
Article Table of Contents
Interior Design Requirements in Georgia
In the state of Georgia in the United States, interior designers are required to pass a test called the NCIDQ exam.
In addition, interior designers need to complete at least 12 hours of classes of continuing education every two years.
Interior designers must be a minimum of 21 years old and have a four-year degree in interior design from an accredited university.
Top Interior Design Programs in Georgia
Savannah College of Art and Design
The Savannah College of Art and Design, known also as SCAD, has a great interior design program.
It offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in interior design and has been mentioned as one of the top interior design schools in the country for 40 years.
The total course of study for a bachelor of fine arts is 180 credit hours.
An M.A. in interior design is 45 credit hours, and an M.F.A. is 90 credit hours.
The total tuition for an undergraduate student is $38,340 a year.
For a graduate student, the total tuition is $39,240.
If, as a student, you plan to live on campus, housing fees range from an additional $9,000 a year to an additional $17,000 a year, depending on which campus you attend and which dormitory you would live in.
The Art Institute of Atlanta
The Art Institute of Atlanta has a bachelor’s in fine arts in the interior design program.
They also have a diploma in residential interiors.
The bachelor’s in a fine arts program is a total of 180 credit hours over the course of 12 quarters.
The diploma in residential interiors is shorter, totaling 48 credit hours over the course of 6 quarters.
The tuition cost for a bachelor’s in fine arts in interior design is $575 per credit hour.
For the entire degree, the cost would be about $103,500.
For the diploma in residential interiors, a credit hour is $575, totaling $27,600.
Georgia Southern University
Located in southern Georgia on three campuses, Georgia Southern University also has an interior design program with an impeccable reputation.
Contrary to the first two schools, Georgia Southern’s interior design degree is a Bachelor of Science.
It totals 124 credit hours.
They do not have a graduate program for interior design.
Tuition and fees for Georgia Southern vary based on in-state and out-of-state tuition.
A resident of the state of Georgia will pay $3,789.00 per semester for their tuition, whereas an out-of-state resident will pay $10,698.00 for one semester.
It is much more affordable to attend in the state unless you have a scholarship.
Lanier Technical College
Lanier Technical College is located in Gainesville, Georgia.
The Forsyth campus has an interiors degree available, where you can get an interiors diploma.
Students will be educated on textiles and other facets of the interior design industry and receive hands-on teaching through the curriculum.
The program takes five semesters to complete and is 66 credit hours.
Tuition for the interior design program is paid by credit hour since it is a technical college.
Lanier’s rate per credit hour is $100, making the total cost of this program around $6,600 plus fees.
Athens Technical College
Athens Technical College is located in Athens, Georgia.
Athens Technical College offers both an associate’s degree in interior design as well as an interior design diploma.
The Associate’s Degree is a total of 48 credit hours, and the interior design diploma is a total of 45 credit hours.
The tuition rate is $100 per credit hour.
The total of an Associate’s Degree in Interior Design would be $4,800 plus fees, and the total of an Interior Design Diploma would be $4,500 plus fees.
Interior Design Schools in Georgia – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 516 Drayton St, Savannah, GA 31401 |
| The Art Institute of Atlanta | 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, N.E. 100 Embassy Row Atlanta, GA 30328-1649 |
| Georgia Southern University | 1332 Southern Dr, Statesboro, GA 30458, |
| Lanier Technical College | 2535 Lanier Tech Dr, Gainesville, GA 30507 |
| Athens Technical College | 800 US-29, Athens, GA 30601 |
How Much Would I Make? Interior Design Salary Ranges in Georgia
In the state of Georgia, the average interior designer can make between $38,000-55,000 a year.
Salaries can vary greatly based on the type of interior design degree you have and the amount of experience you have.
For example, someone with a bachelor’s or graduate degree will make more than someone with an associate’s degree or a diploma.
Experience also matters, so your salary will go up as you gain more jobs and experience.
The average salary for an interior designer in Georgia is $48,730 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | $48,242 |
| Augusta | $45,638 |
| Columbus | $44,354 |
| Savannah | $45,826 |
| Athens | $47,901 |
| Macon | $45,503 |
| Roswell | $48,059 |
| Albany | $44,830 |
| Marietta | $48,105 |
| Warner Robins | $45,366 |
Regional Salary in Georgia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 50 | $44,580 | $21.43 | $74,410 | $19,700 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,770 | $68,990 | $33.17 | $104,000 | $29,990 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 80 | $49,870 | $23.98 | $76,420 | $20,200 |
| Savannah, GA | 70 | $50,120 | $24.1 | $80,880 | $21,160 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Sources
- https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/am-i-a-real-designer-if-im-not-licensed
- https://www.scad.edu/academics/programs/interior-design
- https://www.scad.edu/admission/tuition-and-fees/graduate
- https://www.artinstitutes.edu/atlanta/academics/interior-design
- https://www.artinstitutes.edu/atlanta/tuition-aid/
- https://cbss.georgiasouthern.edu/interior-design/
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/11eN8Jb0BqgGjtahRqSnu6GUivHD7dgFB/view
- https://laniertech.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2021-2022/Catalog/Programs-of-Study/Interiors/Interiors-Degree-Program
- https://www.athenstech.edu/studentAffairs/programs/programInfo/programPage.cfm?p=Interior_Design
- https://athenstech.smartcatalogiq.com/2021-2022/Catalog/Tuition-and-Fees
- https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/interior-designer-i-salary/atlanta-ga
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to do to keep my interior design license in Georgia?
You will need to take twelve hours of continuing education classes every two years to keep your license.
How old do I have to be?
Interior designers must be 21 years old in the state of Georgia.
What are the annual interior design license fees in Georgia?
The initial license registration fee is $50.
To keep your license, you must pay $90 when you take your continuing education classes every two years.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Certified Interior Designer
Interior Design Schools by State