
Interior Designers Institute (IDI) is a private, specialized college in Newport Beach, California, focused on interior design education. Its identity today is defined by a relatively narrow range of design credentials rather than the broad academic divisions of a general-purpose university.
IDI's institutional history is most relevant to applicants when evaluating how its programs developed and whether a particular credential meets their goals. Because program names and degree offerings can change, applicants should use the current catalog - not an older description of the college - to establish which courses and credentials are available for their intended start date.
IDI organizes its academics around interior design rather than separate colleges of arts, business, and sciences. Its offerings include interior design study at the certificate, associate, bachelor's, and graduate levels, with requirements that differ by credential.
Students can expect the subject to involve design concepts, materials, drawing and visual communication, and the practical constraints of planning interior spaces. A prospective student should compare the current catalog's course sequence, software and materials requirements, and any portfolio or culminating-project expectations before choosing a program. A shorter certificate and a degree should not be treated as interchangeable: they can differ substantially in general education, time commitment, and preparation for further study.
IDI is located in Newport Beach, in Orange County's coastal metropolitan area. It is a small, specialized campus rather than a residential university with a large network of campus buildings.
Students arranging transportation should plan around the specific campus address and their class schedule. Parking is permitted for first-year students, but permission to bring a car is not the same as a guaranteed space. John Wayne Airport is the nearest major commercial airport, which may be useful for students traveling from outside the region.
IDI's stated educational focus is preparation for interior design practice through specialized instruction. That purpose is narrower than the mission of a comprehensive college: academic work is centered on design skills and their application to interior spaces.
Applicants should assess that focus against their own plans. Someone seeking sustained design study may value a specialized curriculum, while someone who wants to explore several unrelated majors should compare IDI with institutions offering a broader range of programs. An institutional mission describes an educational aim; it does not, by itself, establish licensing eligibility or a particular employment outcome.
Name of the institution
Interior Designers InstituteLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
QuartersFoundation year
1984Interior Designers Institute is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.