Laptop Requirement
In addition to the standard tuition and fees, students entering the Interior Design program should also factor in the cost of a laptop and recommended software in order to complete projects and course deliverables. The following laptop specifications are the minimum requirements; please ensure your laptop has a graphics card that will enable you to create digital drawings.
Recommended Laptop Specifications
Operating System: 64-bit Microsoft Windows 11.
Note for Mac users: Officially, Windows is required. However, software like Parallels Desktop can be used on newer Intel or Apple Silicon Macs with a minimum of 16 GB of RAM.
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i-Series/Ultra Series, Xeon, AMD Ryzen, or Threadripper (3.0 GHz+ with high single-core performance).
- Memory (RAM):
- Absolute Minimum: 16 GB.
- Professional Standard: 32 GB.
- Large/Complex Models: 64 GB to 128 GB.
- Graphics (GPU): DirectX 11 capable graphics card with Shader Model 5, and at least 4 GB VRAM (8 GB+ recommended if using 4K monitors or rendering plugins).
- Storage: Minimum of 30 GB free for installation, though NVMe SSDs are highly recommended for optimal read/write speeds when saving and syncing large BIM models.
- Cooling: Because of heat, laptops frequently throttle performance. Seek out mobile workstations that feature robust cooling solutions.
- Check Official Verification Tools: Hardware setups and configurations depend strongly on your specific project needs. Verify your target machine's compatibility using the official Autodesk Revit System Requirements and Autodesk AutoCAD System Requirements pages
Software Specifications
Software is listed in alphabetical order and is broken down per year of the program. Many of the software packages below are free for students enrolled in post-secondary. Please research accordingly.
| SOFTWARE | YEAR 1 | YEAR 2 | YEAR 3 | YEAR 4 |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro | X | X | X | X |
| Adobe Creative Cloud | X | X | X | |
| AutoCAD | X | X | X | X |
| FastStone Capture | X | X | X | X |
| Kerkythea Plugin | X | X | X | |
| MS Office | X | X | X | X |
| OneNote | X | X | X | X |
| Revit | X | X | ||
| SketchUp | X | X | X | X |
| SU Podium | X | X |
Please bookmark this page to stay up-to-date on software and laptop specification requirements.
Lab Fees
Students are charged a studio fee per semester of $198 (cost approximate) which covers many materials and incidentals related to the program. Students entering the program should also keep in mind there may be extra costs for materials in some courses; please consult with your instructor first before purchasing any supplies or materials.
Design Field School
Students in the interior design degree program are also required to take one of the yearly Design Field Schools as part of their degree requirement. This is an amazing international experience for our students. To find out more about Design Field Schools, please go to the following pages: Design Field School and KPU Field School
In addition to the course tuition, students should factor in the cost of a program fee which varies yearly depending on travel destination(s); this fee covers accommodation, city transportation and transfers, and museum/gallery/exhibition entrance. International flight(s), personal expenses, most meals, and tuition are not included in the program fee.
Textbooks
In 2021, the Interior Design program became the 2nd program within the Wilson School of Design to join the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) program. KPU's ZTC program allow students to pursue an education without spending money on textbooks.