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Architecture

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Architecture is a five-year professional degree at most schools, with intense studio courses where you design real buildings under faculty critique. You'll also take structures, environmental systems, history of architecture, materials, and computer-aided design.

Studio is the heart of the major—expect to spend nights and weekends sketching, building physical models, and rendering 3D designs. Reviews ("crits") in front of faculty and visiting architects can be brutal but are how you learn to see and defend your work.

What you'll do after college

Grads work at architecture firms, design firms, real estate developers, and government agencies. Becoming a licensed architect requires several years of supervised practice plus the Architect Registration Examination.

Day-to-day work involves designing buildings, drawing construction documents, meeting with clients and contractors, and visiting sites. Pay is modest in the early years but rises with licensure and experience. The work is creative, visible, and deeply tied to community and place.

Famous graduates

  • I.M. Pei — Designed the Louvre Pyramid; B.Arch from MIT
  • Maya Lin — Designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; B.A. in Architecture from Yale University
  • Frank Gehry — Designed the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao; B.Arch from USC

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$60,239
1,315
100–88%
$62,346
2,497
88–77%
$62,714
2,456
77–69%
$64,629
2,629
69–52%
$68,078
2,526
52–20%
$73,560
1,273
19–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$56,139
987
400–1100
$59,015
1,987
1100–1180
$63,450
1,968
1180–1260
$67,598
2,001
1260–1340
$69,241
1,972
1350–1460
$73,311
998
1460–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$48,779p10 $73,384p90 Arts STEM Non-Research Female-only Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Liberal Arts 1–20 Public University 1–25 Private University 21–40 Private University 1–20 Rhode Island School of Design · $80,726 Bennington College · $46,782 Cleveland Institute of Art · $46,204 Moore College of Art and Design · $46,147 Fashion Institute of Technology · $58,599 Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design · $55,589 The New School · $59,827 Woodbury University · $59,462 Cornish College of the Arts · $52,508 Columbus College of Art & Design · $40,747 Pratt Institute · $78,138 Columbia College Chicago · $46,082 Maryland Institute College of Art · $51,225 Massachusetts College of Art and Design · $50,925 Southern California Institute of Architecture · $63,428 Savannah College of Art and Design · $56,844 California College of the Arts · $61,601 College for Creative Studies · $60,568 Cooper Union · $63,789 Wentworth Institute of Technology · $72,095 Lawrence Technological University · $70,978 Wellesley College · $73,407 Barnard College · $75,585 Smith College · $57,140 Bryn Mawr College · $55,073 Mount Holyoke College · $57,782 Meredith College · $46,268 Mount Mary University · $52,251 Bay Path University · $48,549 Salem College · $47,263 Rhodes College · $62,326 Trinity University · $69,239 Connecticut College · $67,880 Morehouse College · $62,411 Trinity College (CT) · $70,015 Dillard University · $48,779 Adrian College · $48,803 Chatham University · $66,388 Drury University · $69,426 Augsburg University · $58,692 Converse University · $47,044 Keene State College · $65,441 CUNY Hunter College · $86,148 Cal State Long Beach · $67,824 University of California, Irvine · $62,232 Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo · $80,247 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · $51,014 San Diego State University · $62,214 Alabama A&M University · $51,042 University of Washington · $65,585 CUNY City College · $64,019 Cal Poly - Pomona · $75,010 Clemson University · $64,908 Morgan State University · $60,009 North Carolina A&T State University · $56,162 Salisbury University · $60,980 Stony Brook University · $65,159 San Jose State University · $93,917 CUNY Queens College · $60,656 Florida Atlantic University · $60,331 West Chester University of Pennsylvania · $64,071 University of Connecticut · $69,254 Pennsylvania State University · $76,659 University of Pittsburgh · $58,830 Illinois State University · $60,395 Mississippi State University · $65,642 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $87,027 University of New Mexico · $58,494 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $59,836 Wayne State University · $60,709 University of Central Missouri · $42,852 Winthrop University · $52,038 Appalachian State University · $55,199 Fresno State · $52,164 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry · $65,124 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $64,313 Louisiana Tech University · $53,620 University of Houston · $67,134 Ball State University · $60,620 Central Michigan University · $56,215 Eastern Michigan University · $53,971 Kean University · $60,580 Oklahoma State University · $64,390 University at Albany · $56,007 New Jersey Institute of Technology · $67,714 Texas Tech University · $62,180 University of Michigan - Dearborn · $63,228 Tennessee State University · $48,533 Texas State University · $60,758 University at Buffalo · $62,537 Louisiana State University · $64,042 Cal State Sacramento · $67,440 Cleveland State University · $48,869 East Carolina University · $54,601 Georgia Southern University · $52,328 Missouri State University - Springfield · $48,801 Ohio University · $52,515 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $57,360 Temple University · $61,743 University of Central Arkansas · $50,029 University of Colorado Denver · $63,732 University of Delaware · $69,429 University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth · $64,073 University of Memphis · $54,734 University of Nebraska at Kearney · $49,325 University of North Carolina at Greensboro · $48,573 University of Northern Iowa · $50,416 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $64,894 University of Tennessee, Chattanooga · $59,591 University of Texas at Arlington · $64,349 Virginia Commonwealth University · $50,913 Westfield State University · $54,588 Worcester State University · $47,419 Wright State University · $57,220 College of Charleston · $56,330 Miami University - Ohio · $59,495 Oregon State University · $53,265 University of Alabama · $57,905 University of Arkansas · $66,490 University of Idaho · $55,125 University of Louisville · $56,393 Washington State University · $68,534 Boise State University · $57,966 University of Missouri - Kansas City · $60,671 University of Rhode Island · $64,541 Valdosta State University · $44,386 Prairie View A&M University · $63,882 University of Missouri · $64,391 East Tennessee State University · $40,620 Middle Tennessee State University · $49,180 Northern Arizona University · $54,011 University of Louisiana at Lafayette · $55,510 University of New Hampshire · $61,087 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $67,248 University of Oregon · $68,694 Rutgers University - Camden · $61,189 Southeast Missouri State University · $50,502 University of Illinois Chicago · $61,866 Western Carolina University · $51,717 Portland State University · $62,314 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $59,880 University of Central Oklahoma · $59,192 University of New Orleans · $54,491 University of North Texas · $56,454 Bowling Green State University · $55,662 Colorado State University - Fort Collins · $62,170 Eastern Washington University · $58,777 Fairmont State University · $55,442 Indiana University of Pennsylvania · $54,630 Kennesaw State University · $59,299 Kent State University at Kent · $57,683 University of Nevada, Las Vegas · $60,440 University of Utah · $59,122 University of Washington - Tacoma · $66,334 Michigan State University · $54,108 Purdue University Fort Wayne · $43,342 Stephen F. Austin State University · $50,341 Western Michigan University · $67,581 William Paterson University of New Jersey · $59,599 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $47,918 Rowan University · $62,484 Ferris State University · $43,252 Indiana State University · $51,937 Iowa State University · $70,822 SUNY Buffalo State University · $49,022 Saint Cloud State University · $58,454 South Dakota State University · $54,702 University of Arizona · $77,918 University of Cincinnati · $64,105 Western Kentucky University · $61,001 Arizona State University · $64,521 Cal State Northridge · $64,201 Towson University · $62,872 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $65,559 University of Kansas · $63,312 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee · $62,181 University of Kentucky · $59,855 University of North Alabama · $52,193 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point · $45,449 University of Texas at San Antonio · $56,161 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $51,582 North Dakota State University · $62,548 Plymouth State University · $56,195 University of Southern Mississippi · $52,830 San Francisco State University · $68,727 Utah State University · $61,707 Pittsburg State University · $50,181 Sam Houston State University · $48,480 Montana State University · $62,850 Harris-Stowe State University · $46,740 University of the District of Columbia · $61,013 Utah Valley University · $60,935 Weber State University · $54,898 University of Notre Dame · $78,022 Brigham Young University · $98,656 Mississippi Christian University · $38,394 Fordham University · $71,957 Loyola Marymount University · $64,713 Texas Christian University · $60,241 Liberty University · $45,177 Baylor University · $62,970 University of San Diego · $67,136 Andrews University · $61,115 High Point University · $60,402 Olivet Nazarene University · $51,068 Anderson University · $54,060 Harding University · $46,032 Judson University · $57,668 Manhattan College · $65,293 Albright College · $56,416 California Baptist University · $53,240 Concordia University Wisconsin · $61,185 Queens University of Charlotte · $49,008 Abilene Christian University · $48,822 University of San Francisco · $76,039 Chaminade University of Honolulu · $55,504 La Roche University · $56,314 University of Detroit Mercy · $68,334 Salve Regina University · $65,339 Carson-Newman University · $47,114 Marywood University · $63,870 Mercyhurst University · $58,401 George Fox University · $55,135 Marymount University · $64,262 Samford University · $59,918 Catholic University of America · $68,607 DePaul University · $43,774 Brenau University · $49,777 Seattle Pacific University · $79,971 Belmont University · $41,939 University of the Incarnate Word · $52,068 Oklahoma Christian University · $49,855 Benedictine College · $58,554 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · $74,899 Rochester Institute of Technology · $55,746 Howard University · $59,126 Tuskegee University · $60,222 Syracuse University · $73,384 Endicott College · $71,478 Illinois Institute of Technology · $55,025 Hobart William Smith Colleges · $66,974 Delaware Valley University · $57,056 Roger Williams University · $65,933 Suffolk University · $62,088 University of New Haven · $31,336 University of Bridgeport · $47,145 Lipscomb University · $58,697 Ithaca College · $59,354 Thomas Jefferson University · $67,466 New York Institute of Technology · $68,148 Drexel University · $72,099 Norwich University · $53,538 Maryville University of Saint Louis · $49,414 Park University · $47,143 Amherst College · $67,964 Haverford College · $69,042 Middlebury College · $64,484 Vassar College · $58,731 Georgia Tech · $64,115 University of California, Berkeley · $81,376 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor · $65,185 University of Virginia · $73,572 University of Florida · $63,758 University of Georgia · $68,034 Purdue University · $59,197 University of Maryland, College Park · $66,802 UCLA · $60,803 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $65,804 University of Texas at Austin · $72,491 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $64,762 University of Wisconsin - Madison · $60,245 Texas A&M University - College Station · $68,580 Florida State University · $52,542 Auburn University · $68,367 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $63,331 University of Central Florida · $63,529 Virginia Tech · $77,885 University of California, San Diego · $71,507 Ohio State University · $63,149 North Carolina State University · $75,161 Washington University in St Louis · $73,482 University of Southern California · $76,832 Boston University · $69,573 University of Miami · $66,688 Lehigh University · $71,359 Northeastern University · $76,911 Tulane University · $71,413 George Washington University · $62,031 MIT · $99,932 Stanford University · $75,731 Brown University · $74,120 Princeton University · $68,799 University of Pennsylvania · $74,252 Carnegie Mellon University · $71,981 Rice University · $69,100 Yale University · $85,967 Cornell University · $70,890 Vanderbilt University · $77,997 Columbia University · $81,922 Tufts University · $67,696 Arts: mean $56,411 STEM Non-Research: mean $68,954 Female-only: mean $57,035 Liberal Arts: mean $61,370 Public University: mean $59,331 Religious University: mean $59,159 Private University: mean $59,822 Liberal Arts 1–20: mean $65,055 Public University 1–25: mean $66,827 Private University 21–40: mean $71,036 Private University 1–20: mean $76,532 All colleges: p10 $48,779 All colleges: p90 $73,384
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Architecture 303 12,696 39% / 61% 8% $63,678 96%
Architecture 108 5,428 49% / 51% 9% $66,304 96%
Interior Design 122 2,457 8% / 92% 6% $55,132 95%
Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology 16 1,041 46% / 54% 13% $67,996 99%
Landscape Architecture 39 684 46% / 54% 7% $65,439 96%
Interior Architecture 32 593 12% / 88% 3% $59,607 95%
Urban Studies 43 454 46% / 54% 6% $64,523 93%
Architectural Studies 13 346 45% / 55% 8% $68,047 92%
Urban Studies/Affairs 22 231 44% / 56% 2% $59,241 97%
Environmental Design/Architecture 11 194 48% / 52% 5% $59,074 96%
Urban Planning 7 157 62% / 38% 4% $63,732 95%
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning 16 153 55% / 45% 3% $61,234 96%
Architectural Sciences 2 101 48% / 52% 9% $72,188 93%
Urban and Regional Planning 6 90 48% / 52% 2% $60,062 98%
Housing and Interior Design 2 75 44% / 56% 0% $88,154 96%
Architectural and Building Science Technology 1 72 44% / 56% 4% $71,494 88%
Urban Studies and Planning 2 64 53% / 47% 12% $63,757 100%
Architectural History and Criticism 8 57 44% / 56% 12% $67,967 94%
City and Regional Planning 3 54 56% / 44% 0% $65,000 98%
Housing and Human Environments 3 52 4% / 96% 2% $52,310 95%
Historic Preservation and Conservation 6 39 28% / 72% 3% $62,074 89%
Architecture Studies 2 38 34% / 66% 13% $70,995 100%
Architecture and Design Technology 1 36 53% / 47% 0% $62,254
Spatial Sciences 1 36 69% / 31% 3% $71,323 89%
Urban Design and Planning 1 35 49% / 51% 6% $70,447 83%
Architectural Technology 4 30 50% / 50% 10% $60,559 100%
Architecture and Related Services 2 27 56% / 44% 0% $59,560 88%
Urban and Regional Studies 1 27 44% / 56% 11% $70,676 96%
Architectural Technology/Technician 1 24 75% / 25% 0% $61,001 96%
Landscape and Urban Studies 1 20 40% / 60% 0% $62,484 100%
Architectural Design Technology 1 18 22% / 78% 6% $65,127
Urban Planning and Design 1 17 53% / 47% 12% $67,410 100%
Community and Regional Planning 1 14 57% / 43% 7% $61,658 100%
Architectural Design 2 9 22% / 78% 11% $64,998
Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science (Course 11-6) 1 9 22% / 78% 0% $109,410 94%
Architecture (Course 4) 1 7 43% / 57% 14% $87,746 94%
Interior Architecture + Design 1 3 0% / 100% 33% $52,508 92%
Environmental Design 1 2 50% / 50% 0% $62,076
Urban and Metropolitan Studies 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $61,480