Interior Designer Degree Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Racine Wisconsin

So it’s time to start the process of choosing an interior design school near Racine WI now that you have made a career choice to study to be an interior designer. Even if you have always had a gift for designing commercial or residential spaces, it's important that you get the proper training to put your natural abilities to work. And since interior designers must be licensed in a number of states, the college you select should prep you to pass any required licensing exam as well as provide the proper training for your specialty. So it's vital you do the proper research so that you can assess and compare each program that you are looking at prior to making your ultimate choice. But just how do you go about finding the right school? Some prospective students will kick off their research by searching for interior design courses near their residence and then comparing tuition expenses. However, a school is not always the right choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as reputation and accreditation. We will discuss those issues and other crucial questions that you must ask the interior design schools you are reviewing in more detail below. 

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Questions to Ask Interior Design Colleges

Now that you have decided on the interior design degree that you wish to earn, you can start the task of evaluating your school options. Location will be a critical factor, particularly if the college needs to be within commuting distance from your Racine WI residence. Obviously if you have decided on attending a school online, or are prepared to move to attend classes, then location might not be a qualification. The cost of tuition will decrease your options as well. But selecting the cheapest school or the one that is nearest to your residence are not the best ways to make your selection. There are other issues that you need to consider also, including the reputation and accreditation of the school. Following are a list of concerns that you may want to address with the schools you are reviewing to get those answers as well as others to help you examine and ultimately choose the right degree program.

Is the Interior Designer Degree Program Accredited? It's important to confirm that the interior designer college and program that you enroll in has been accredited by either a regional or national organization. One of the most respected in the industry is the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Schools earning accreditation from the NASAD have undergone a rigorous evaluation of their programs and teachers. Just make sure that both the college and the degree program have been accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Not only will it help verify that the reputation of the school and the quality of the training are exceptional, it might also help when applying for financial assistance or a student loan. Often they are not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of Racine WI employers will only hire graduates of accredited schools for entry level jobs.

Does the School Ready you for Licensing? As we previously mentioned, some States do mandate that interior designers get licensed. This would require 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 calling for licensing, at least 2 years of occupational experience may be required as well. So besides providing an exceptional education, the Racine WI school you choose should also furnish the suitable instruction to pass the NCIDQ exam and meet the minimum licensing requirements for Wisconsin or the State where you will be employed.

What is the College's Job Placement Rate? Once you have graduated and earned your interior design certification, you will probably need some help in finding your first job. Ask the programs that you are considering if they have a job placement program. If so, find out what their job placement rates are. A high rate is a good sign that the school and its programs are held in high esteem within the interior design profession and its graduates are sought after. It may also indicate that the school has a substantial network of Racine WI business connections where they can refer students to secure internships or employment after they graduate.

Is Financial Assistance Available? Get in touch with the financial assistance offices for the Racine WI colleges you are evaluating and ask what kind of assistance they provide. A number of interior designer programs offer financial aid to their new students. Certain colleges offer partial scholarships and others provide help in securing federal student loans or grants. Again it must be stressed that choosing an accredited college is imperative for qualification in most cases. In some cases a college that has a higher tuition may effectively be less expensive than its competitors because they offer more generous financial assistance.

How Large are the Classes? Smaller classes are more personal and conducive to personalized instruction. If classes are large, you probably will receive minimal individual attention from the teachers. Find out from the Racine WI programs you are looking at what their average teacher to student ratios are. If practical from your Racine home, visit the school and attend a couple of classes. Take the opportunity to speak 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 Offered that Fit your Schedule? Finally, verify that the interior design school you select provides classes the fit your busy schedule. This is especially important if you plan to continue working while attending school. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Racine WI, make sure that those classes are offered. If working full-time means you can only attend part-time, confirm that is an alternative also. Finally, find out what the procedure is for making up classes missed because of work, family or illness.

Find Out More About How to Become an Interior Designer in Racine

Choose the Best Racine Interior Design School

Picking the right interior design program is a crucial initial step toward launching your career in this creative and rewarding profession. Searching for a college where you will obtain your training and cultivate your skills in a particular area of study is a difficult task no matter what major you have decided on. As with any undertaking to attain a higher education, there are a number of factors to consider before enrolling in a course, program or school. At a minimum, verify that the program and design college are both accredited and highly esteemed in the profession. It is still essential that you conduct your due diligence analysis. By doing so and following the balance of the recommendations presented in this article, you will be able to effectively evaluate and compare interior design colleges so that you can make the ideal ultimate selection. And with superior training and your desire to succeed, you can reach your goal of becoming an interior designer in Racine Wisconsin.

 

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