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What to Ask Interior Design Colleges

After you have chosen the interior designer degree that you want to earn, you can start the task of analyzing your college options. Location will be a critical issue, particularly if the school must be within driving distance from your San Bernardino CA residence. Of course if you have decided on attending a school online, or are prepared to move to attend classes, then location may not be a qualifier. The expense for tuition will limit your options also. But choosing the cheapest college or the one that is nearest to home are not the optimal ways to make your selection. There are other things that you should consider also, such as the reputation and accreditation of the school. Following are a list of concerns that you may want to ask the schools you are looking at to get those answers as well as others in order to help you compare and ultimately pick the right degree program.

Is the Interior Design College Accredited? It's imperative to make sure that the interior designer program and school that you select has been accredited by either a national or regional agency. One of the most respected in the field is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Schools receiving accreditation from the NASAD have gone through a rigorous assessment of their programs and teachers. Just make sure that both the degree program and the college have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Not only will it help confirm that the reputation of the school and the quality of the training are outstanding, it may also help when securing financial aid or a student loan. Often they are not available for non-accredited schools. Also, many San Bernardino California employers will only employ graduates of accredited colleges for entry level jobs.

Does the College Ready you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, several States do mandate that interior designers become licensed. This would necessitate a passing score on the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination as well as a degree from an accredited college. And in several of those States requiring licensing, two or more years of occupational experience may be required as well. So in addition to providing an excellent education, the San Bernardino CA college you select should also provide the suitable education to pass the NCIDQ examination and satisfy the minimum licensing requirements for California or the State where you will be employed.

What is the School's Job Placement Rate? After you have graduated and obtained your interior design certification, you will no doubt want some support in finding your first job. Ask the colleges that you are looking at if they have a job assistance program. If so, ask what their job placement rates are. A higher rate is a good sign that the college and its programs are highly esteemed within the interior design trade and its students are in demand. It may also signify that the school has a significant network of San Bernardino CA business contacts where they can refer students to secure internships or employment after they graduate.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Contact the financial aid offices for the San Bernardino CA colleges you are looking at and ask what type of assistance they provide. A number of interior design colleges provide financial assistance to their new students. Various colleges offer partial scholarships while others provide help in acquiring grants or federal student loans. It must be stressed again that selecting an accredited program is essential for qualification in most cases. In some cases a program that has a higher tuition may effectively be less expensive than its competitors because they provide more generous financial assistance.

How Small are the Classes? Smaller classes are more personal and conducive to personalized instruction. If classes are larger, you probably will receive limited individual instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Bernardino CA colleges you are considering what their average student to teacher ratios are. If practical from your San Bernardino home, go to the campus and sit in on a few classes. Take the opportunity to talk with a few students and find out what their experiences have been. Ask the instructors what their teaching styles are and what their experiences have been in interior design.

Are Classes Available that Accommodate your Schedule? Last, verify that the interior design program you choose provides classes the fit your busy schedule. This is especially significant if you plan to continue working while attending school. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near San Bernardino CA, confirm that those classes are offered. If working full-time means you can only enroll part-time, check that is an option also. Finally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes missed because of work, family or illness.