Are Interior Design Courses Worth the Money?
Three months ago, Anna from Samara spent 120,000 rubles on an interior design course. Today, she has already recouped this investment with two projects — a studio apartment in a new building and a children’s room for acquaintances. Her classmate Maria from the same cohort still hasn’t taken on a single client, even though she studied the same program.
What’s the difference? Anna chose her course based on clear profitability criteria, not advertising promises. She calculated in advance how many projects she needed to complete to break even. Maria, on the other hand, was lured by “become a designer in 3 months” slogans and didn’t realize what she was really signing up for.
According to SuperJob, the number of vacancies for interior designers increased by 39% in the first half of 2024 compared to 2023. The market is growing, demand exists—but a course costing 50,000–200,000 rubles will only pay off under certain conditions. Let’s break down the investment math without rose-colored glasses.
The Real Economics of Courses: What You’re Paying For
Price Range and What It Includes
The Russian interior design course market in 2025 ranges from 14,900 to 200,000+ rubles. But price rarely correlates directly with quality.
Budget Programs (15,000–50,000₽)
Pentaschool offers a two-month course “Interior Design for Yourself” for 14,900 rubles. You’ll learn the basics, create a project for your own apartment, and master 3D visualization. This is not about becoming a professional — it’s about your own renovation at a discount.
Pros: Pays off after one project for acquaintances (25,000–40,000₽ for a 30 m² studio)
Cons: Insufficient for working with real clients — no legal aspects, budgeting, or project supervision
Mid-Range Programs (80,000–120,000₽)
Skillbox, Netology, Contented — 6–9 month courses covering the full cycle: from ArchiCAD to working with contractors. Monthly installments: 8,000–12,000₽.
Includes:
At least 5 projects for your portfolio
Homework checked by practicing designers
Professional retraining diploma
Client communication training
Critical point: Choose programs that provide feedback within 48 hours. Waiting a week kills the learning momentum.
Premium Programs (150,000–250,000₽)
IDS (International Design School), Bang Bang Education — focus on networking, showroom tours, and instructors from BŪRO or Crosby Studios.
You’re paying extra for:
Industry connections (70% of jobs come through networking)
Access to exclusive events
Recognizable name on your résumé
Honestly: if you don’t aim to work in top studios in Moscow or St. Petersburg, paying an extra 100,000 rubles won’t pay off faster.
Hidden Costs Schools Don’t Mention
Software
ArchiCAD: 2,000₽/month (annual subscription 20,000₽)
3ds Max: 15,000₽/month for commercial use
Adobe Creative Cloud: 3,500₽/month
Many schools provide educational licenses during the course, but after completion, you’ll pay. A year costs at least 50,000₽.
Hardware
Your office laptop won’t handle 3D rendering. You need a machine with a 6 GB video card — starting from 80,000₽. Otherwise, prepare to wait 8 hours for a single render.
Portfolio Materials
Want real projects, not just class exercises? Two options:
Free projects for acquaintances (your time + stress)
Design competitions (from 5,000₽ registration fee)
So, add at least 70,000–100,000₽ to your course cost for the first year of work.
ROI Math: How Many Projects Do You Need?
Beginner vs Experienced Designer Rates
Newcomer (0–6 months post-course)
Design project: 400–800₽/m²
Studio 35 m²: 14,000–28,000₽
Two-room 55 m²: 22,000–44,000₽
Project time: 40–60 hours → 230–700₽/hour
Designer with Portfolio (1–2 years experience)
Design project: 1,500–3,000₽/m²
Studio: 52,000–105,000₽
Two-room: 82,000–165,000₽
Project time: 25–35 hours → 2,000–4,700₽/hour
Premium Segment (3+ years, recognized name)
Design project: from 5,000₽/m²
Commercial interiors: up to 10,000₽/m²
Country houses: custom pricing
Payback Scenarios: Three Realistic Paths
Scenario A: Cautious Start (Side Job)
Investment: 100,000₽ (course) + 50,000₽ (software/hardware) = 150,000₽
Goal: 2 projects/month at 25,000₽ = 50,000₽/month
Payback: 3 months
Realistic? Yes, if you actively seek clients among acquaintances
Scenario B: Aggressive Career Change
Same investment 150,000₽
Goal: 4–5 projects/month = 100,000–125,000₽/month
Payback: 1.5 months
Realistic? Only if you have savings for 3–4 months without orders at the start
Scenario C: Premium Trajectory
Investment: 200,000₽ (top course) + 80,000₽ (equipment) = 280,000₽
First 6 months: unprofitable (learning + building portfolio)
Next 6 months: 2–3 projects at 60,000–80,000₽
Payback: 8–10 months from start
Realistic? Yes, but requires a one-year financial cushion
Why 60% of Graduates Don’t Recoup Their Course
No client acquisition plan
First 10 clients you find yourself: social media, renovation forums, word of mouth.No clear niche
“Do all types of interiors” = you do nothing specifically. Specialization (kids’ rooms, minimalism in Khrushchyovkas, lofts) gets clients 3x faster.Incorrect pricing
Beginners either undercut to 200₽/m² or price like pros and get no orders. Start at the lower end of the mid-range: 600–800₽/m².
Real Value of a Course (Not Price or Brand)
Criterion 1: Number of Verified Homework Assignments
150,000₽ course with 10 checked assignments in 9 months — robbery
80,000₽ course with weekly feedback on 30+ assignments — investment
Criterion 2: Portfolio Reality
Ask: How many projects will you complete on real layouts (not class exercises)?
Red flags:
Only one final assignment
Abstract spaces with no compliance to standards
No work with budgets or contractors
Green flags:
3–5 full projects from measurement to working drawings
At least one commercial interior
One project with a real “client”
Criterion 3: Learning to Find Clients
90% teach drawing, 10% teach selling. Check modules: commercial proposals, finding first 10 clients, negotiations, legal paperwork.
Criterion 4: Post-Graduation Support
Good: lifelong access to materials, alumni community, portfolio reviews, job/internship database
Bad: diploma only, 3 months access to lessons
Alternatives When a Course Isn’t Necessary
Self-study + apprenticeship (0₽)
Work for free under a practicing designer for 3–6 months.
Pros: real projects, live cases, networking
Cons: hard to find a good mentor, no structured system, no early income
Specialized mini-courses (20,000–40,000₽)
E.g., ArchiCAD, commercial negotiations, 3ds Max visualization.
Pros: learn only what you need, quick ROI
Cons: no structure, no diploma
International platforms ($50+/month)
Coursera, Udemy, Domestika — learn from Western designers.
Pros: 10–15x cheaper than Russian schools, global trends
Cons: English needed, no local regulations, certificate not recognized locally
Red Flags: When the Course Won’t Pay Off
Promises of earning from week 1
No information about instructors
Reviews only on the school’s website
Non-refundable full prepayment
Scenarios When a Course Pays Off
You have initial clients before training
You can invest 15+ hours/week
You have a 6-month financial cushion
FAQs
Can a 100,000₽ course pay off in a small town?
Yes, but work online with clients from bigger cities.
Do you need a diploma to work?
Freelance clients don’t care; employers often do.
How soon can you earn 100,000₽/month?
Typically 8–12 months after course completion.
One expensive course vs three cheaper courses?
Depends on learning style; start with a mid-range course.
Can you work without ArchiCAD?
Technically yes, but income and independence are limited.
Is it harder to learn after 35?
Myth. Mature students often succeed faster.
Course: installment or pay in full?
Installments at 0% are fine; otherwise, save and pay outright.