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All Master's & Doctoral Programs
MA

Interior Design

Format & Location

Online

School/College

John Charles Meditz College of Arts & Sciences
Video Poster

Start Dates

Fall (September), Spring (January)

Application Deadline

Fall Priority: August 1 | Spring Priority: December 1

Completion

4-4.5 years

Schedule

Part-Time

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Attend a Virtual Information Session Check for Upcoming Dates

The Master of Arts in Interior Design at Fairfield University is a fully online, part-time graduate degree that prepares students for NCIDQ certification and ASID membership. Through small, synchronous classes and an industry-reviewed capstone portfolio, students gain the skills and experience to advance their careers in interior design.

By the Numbers

100%

of students say their degree helped them reach their career goals.
- 2025 Graduate Destination Survey

50 Years

preparing interior designers since 1977.

100+

students enrolled in the Interior Design portfolio.
- Nationwide and International Reach

What You'll Learn and Do

Build your portfolio.

In the MA Interior Design program, you will create a portfolio filled with quality work samples and present an extensive capstone research project to a panel of industry experts.

Designed for working adults.

This degree offering from Fairfield is fully online to help meet the needs of busy adult students. While courses are synchronous, students can choose from convenient times during the day or evening.

Take steps toward certification.

This rigorous curriculum prepares students to achieve a National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification and become a Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Residential or professional certificate.

Students pursuing a master’s degree in interior design can obtain a residential or professional interior design certificate during their program — with no need to repeat any courses — to start building their resumes before graduating.

A student designed a dining and living space with their signature and the year 2021 in the corner.

Student Work

Since Fairfield's interior design courses are synchronous and small in size, each student receives detailed feedback on their projects in real-time. See how student work in the classroom extends into the field.

Find Out More

Course Requirements

Master of Arts in Interior Design

Contact Us

Graduate Admission
gradadmis@fairfield.edu
(203) 254-4184

Define Your Future

Admissions

From your first admission conversation to graduation and beyond, you’ll find support at every turn. The Fairfield University student support network is dedicated to meeting your needs. You’ll receive personal, academic, and financial guidance as you complete your Master of Arts in Interior Design.

Meet Your Graduate Admission Counselor

Admission Requirements

 

Tuition and Financial Aid

Credits: 63

Cost per Credit: $1,045

Estimated Tuition: $65,835

Estimated tuition does not include fees or annual cost-per-credit increases. Figures are based on the 2026-27 rate.

Tuition & Costs

Financial Aid

Additional Financial Resources

Learn From Industry Experts

Fairfield’s award-winning faculty have deep expertise in topics such as residential interiors and sustainable design. Many are also contributors to some of the most respected publications in the industry. You’ll benefit from their firsthand insights and guidance while obtaining your master’s degree in interior design.

View All Faculty

Rob Hardy
Rob Hardy
Director, Master of Arts in Interior Design
Hollie Sutherland
Hollie Sutherland
Professor of the Practice, Master of Arts in Interior Design

Fairfield’s program is unique in its ability to truly foster a collaborative learning atmosphere in a virtual environment while also offering opportunities to connect students locally with industry organizations and professionals for mentorship, internships and job seeking.”

– Audrey Moore McNichols '26

Frequently Asked Questions

A master's in interior design can prepare you for careers in residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, retail, and workplace design, as well as opportunities in project management, design consulting, and entrepreneurship.

Students at Fairfield also learn from accomplished industry professionals, including Jonathan Gordon, whose firm was recognized as Connecticut's 2026 Best Interior Design and Best Home Decor statewide winner in the Best of Connecticut Awards.

Yes. The MA in Interior Design is delivered fully online. Classes are synchronous, so you meet in real time with faculty and classmates, and you can choose from daytime or evening sections to fit a working schedule. The program is part-time and typically completed in about four to four and a half years.

Students do have the opportunity to come to campus or participate in optional in-person experiences such as visiting the New York City Design Center hosted by alum Carol Brewer and networking at Beth Krupa Interiors, LLC. 

Our online MA carries the same accreditation and faculty as its on-campus graduate programs, and prepares graduates for the same professional NCIDQ and ASID pathways. The synchronous, small-class format is designed to deliver the mentorship and critique that interior design study depends on.

Here are 5 things to look for in your master’s in interior design.

Yes. The curriculum is built to prepare graduates for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam, covering the construction, safety, and building-systems knowledge it requires. Graduates are also prepared to pursue Professional Membership in the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

No, a prior design degree is not required. Many of our students are career changers, who have always been inspired and creative. A promising candidate will have had a lifelong passion for interior design, but it is not required to have pursued it in college.

Every student graduates with a professional portfolio of work built across the program, plus a capstone research project. Because classes are small and synchronous, you receive detailed, real-time feedback on each project as you develop it. 

Students have access to our Research Librarians, who are available to online students, and many interior design students utilize this resource. 

The MA in Interior Design is a part-time program designed for working adults, typically completed in about four to four and a half years. Fall and spring start dates are available, with priority application deadlines of August 1 for fall and December 1 for spring. 

Latest Interior Design News

Featured

Interior designer alumna Betha Krupa discussing color theory with students regarding wood grains.

Interior Design Students Gain Real-World Experience

This past April, graduate students in the online MA in Interior Design program had the opportunity to engage in two immersive learning experiences, at an alumna's Greenwich design firm and at the New York Design Center.

A group of three interior designers working together at a studio, looking a color swatches and plans with a tablet.

9 Interior Design Careers Worth Considering

Interior Designer measuring and comparing flooring samples.

5 Things the Best Interior Design Master’s Degrees Have in Common

More Arts and Sciences News

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