One subject only. The New York School of Interior Design has taught interior design since 1916, and everything on offer, from the associate degree to the master's programmes, is about interiors. The school is on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Students draw by hand and in software, study lighting and sustainable materials, and see finished projects across the city.
New York, New York, United States
Official website: nysid.edu
1916
Private college of interior design
Upper East Side, Manhattan
$34,000 – $42,000
International students, full-time, approximate
$25,000 – $32,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on nysid.edu before you apply.
BFA Interior Design
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
AAS Interior Design
Associate DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MFA Interior Design
Masters DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MPS Interior Lighting Design
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MPS Sustainable Interior Environments
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
A college devoted entirely to interior design.
Master's options in lighting, healthcare and sustainable interiors.
Teaching staff who practise in New York firms.
Graduates join interior design, architecture and hospitality design firms in New York.
Lighting design graduates work with lighting consultancies and manufacturers.
Some programmes may qualify for OPT; check STEM status before you apply.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Early deadlines advised
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
No PG intake
The Upper East Side is residential and polished, with Central Park, the Met and Museum Mile close by. The 6 train and the Q line run through it.
New York rents are among the highest anywhere. Most students share apartments in Queens, Brooklyn or upper Manhattan.
Form I-20 issued by the institution
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
NYSID reviews undergraduate applications on a rolling basis. Graduate programmes have priority deadlines in winter or early spring for fall entry. Apply early so the I-20 and visa interview are not rushed.
The BFA and associate degree start in fall or spring. Graduate programmes start in fall.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, New York School of Interior Design issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
The BFA, the MFA for career changers and the MPS programmes in lighting and sustainable interiors are popular. Undergraduates need school transcripts and a portfolio or design exercise; graduate applicants need a bachelor's degree and portfolio, plus IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80.
NYSID offers some merit scholarships, including to international students. Awards are usually decided at admission, so apply early.
