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Colleges by major · 2026
Architecture is a small program family, so this list uses a lower threshold. Professional licensure depends on a NAAB-accredited degree, and studio culture varies a great deal between schools.
Rankings use federal IPEDS program data and College Scorecard outcomes. Verify deadlines, prerequisites, and accreditation with each college before applying.
Colleges that award at least 1.5% of their degrees in architecture, ordered by median earnings 10 years after entry. The share column shows how large the field is at each school.
| # | College | Median earnings | Share of degrees | Acceptance rate | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA | $143,372 | 2.3% | 4.5% | $20,111 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA | $114,862 | 2.3% | 11.7% | $31,944 |
| 3 | Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA | $105,584 | 2.1% | 25.9% | $36,931 |
| 4 | Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY | $104,043 | 2.8% | 8.8% | $28,690 |
| 5 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY | $102,051 | 4.7% | 63.5% | $36,228 |
| 6 | Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT | $100,533 | 1.6% | 3.9% | $23,777 |
| 7 | University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN | $99,980 | 1.7% | 11.3% | $26,780 |
| 8 | University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | $92,498 | 3.0% | 9.8% | $32,740 |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA | $90,768 | 4.3% | 31.3% | $16,665 |
| 10 | University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | $89,812 | 2.5% | 61.7% | $41,431 |
| 11 | Rice UniversityHouston, TX | $89,718 | 3.2% | 8.0% | $13,370 |
| 12 | University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA | $86,863 | 1.9% | 16.8% | $21,565 |
| 13 | University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA | $86,522 | 1.9% | 52.4% | $30,365 |
| 14 | Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO | $86,182 | 2.7% | 12.1% | $21,786 |
| 15 | Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA | $84,803 | 1.6% | 14.1% | $25,496 |
Median earnings are reported for the whole institution (all graduates), not for architecture majors specifically. A school that is strong in other fields can therefore rank above one with a better architecture program. Treat this as a shortlist, not a verdict.
Schools where architecture makes up the biggest share of all degrees awarded. A larger share means more sections, more faculty, and more course choice — it does not guarantee a better program.
Admission rates, test scores, cost, and full program mix for the schools with the largest architecture programs.
How this list is built and how to use it
This page ranks colleges where architecture is at least 1.5% of all degrees awarded, ordered by median earnings 10 years after entry. Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops the current list at $143,372. Earnings are institutional averages, not program-specific salaries — use the list to shortlist schools, then compare curriculum and cost.
We use federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data. A college qualifies when architecture makes up at least 1.5% of the degrees it awards. Qualifying colleges are ordered by median earnings 10 years after entry, with graduation rate as the tie-breaker. Median earnings cover all graduates of the institution, not just architecture majors.
114 colleges in the current catalog award at least 1.5% of their degrees in architecture. The table shows the top 15 by earnings; every school links to its profile page.
No. Program size measures how many degrees a school awards in the field, not quality. A smaller department can offer more research access or smaller classes. Check accreditation for your specific track, required coursework, and where recent graduates went.
Use the free college search to enter your GPA (SAT optional) along with your intended major, budget, and location. It sorts schools into Reach, Target, and Safety matches from the same federal dataset used on this page.
Enter your GPA, intended major, and budget to get Reach, Target, and Safety matches from the same federal dataset.