Interior Architecture: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 17 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$97,771 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
16.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−37%Modeled 10-year ROI
$61,421Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Four useful answers about Interior Architecture
How much do Interior Architecture bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $61,421 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $23,250. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Interior Architecture?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $58,518 to $64,751 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Interior Architecture?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 3 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$15,790
$8,000Annual price−$47,790
$16,000Annual price−$79,790
$20,000Current college-wide context−$95,790
$24,000Annual price−$111,790
$32,000Annual price−$143,790
$40,000Annual price−$175,790
Observed national outcomes
$61,421Median reported earnings · year 4
$58,641Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,250Median federal debt
49thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
17With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$58,518National median$61,42175th percentile$64,751
17 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$68,753Observed year-4 earnings$50,266
Auburn University$24,323 price · $69,657 earningsThomas Jefferson University$28,928 price · $68,753 earningsSyracuse University$38,793 price · $67,227 earningsThe University of Tennessee-Knoxville$18,976 price · $65,144 earningsTexas Tech University$19,070 price · $64,751 earningsUniversity of North Texas$15,649 price · $64,716 earningsUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln$17,747 price · $62,201 earningsColorado State University-Fort Collins$21,279 price · $61,894 earningsMississippi State University$17,595 price · $61,421 earningsCalifornia State University, Sacramento$9,338 price · $61,410 earningsThe University of Texas at San Antonio$10,836 price · $61,356 earningsStephen F Austin State University$14,260 price · $59,047 earningsLouisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College$19,151 price · $58,518 earningsBowling Green State University-Main Campus$24,022 price · $53,592 earningsUniversity of New Haven$34,192 price · $52,854 earningsIndiana State University$10,873 price · $52,693 earningsMarywood University$23,388 price · $50,266 earnings
$9,338Annual college-wide average net price$34,192
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
17 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Auburn University$69,6572Thomas Jefferson University$68,7533Syracuse University$67,2274The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$65,1445Texas Tech University$64,7516University of North Texas$64,7167University of Nebraska-Lincoln$62,2018Colorado State University-Fort Collins$61,8949Mississippi State University$61,42110California State University, Sacramento$61,410Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 median wage220,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9041+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$120,810–$262,760 10th–90th percentileArchitecture Teachers, Postsecondary$96,870 median wage7,700 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1031+2.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$58,430–$159,030 10th–90th percentileInterior Designers$67,190 median wage71,500 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1025+2.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$41,420–$114,140 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $69,657 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $68,753 | $27,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $67,227 | Not available | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $65,144 | $27,000 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $64,751 | $21,950 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $64,716 | $18,250 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $62,201 | $26,876 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $61,894 | $22,417 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Mississippi State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mississippi State, MS | $61,421 | $22,254 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $61,410 | $16,500 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | The University of Texas at San AntonioBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $61,356 | $30,525 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Stephen F Austin State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nacogdoches, TX | $59,047 | $23,250 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBachelor's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $58,518 | $17,750 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $53,592 | $27,000 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of New HavenBachelor's Degree | West Haven, CT | $52,854 | Not available | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Indiana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Terre Haute, IN | $52,693 | $27,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Marywood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Scranton, PA | $50,266 | Not available | -81% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.