by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 16 U.S. colleges awarded 146 degrees and certificates in Architectural History & Criticism, General. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 80% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Architectural History & Criticism, General Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $30,189 one year after completing, rising to $66,286 after four years.
Studying Architectural History & Criticism, General involves the study of Architectural History And Criticism, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Aesthetic, Technical, And Social Development Of The Built Environment And The Architectural Profession From Earliest Times To The Present. Includes Instruction In The Principles Of Architecture And Related Fields; Art History; Historiography Of Architecture; Architectural Theory And Criticism; Related Aspects Of The History Of Technology And Social And Economic History; And Various Period, Cultural, And Stylistic Specializations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., architectural history & criticism, general is a popular field of study, with 146 degrees awarded annually. 16 colleges award architectural history & criticism, general degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 32.
By level, the 146 awards include 1 associate degrees, 117 bachelor’s degrees, 25 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 64% of architectural history & criticism, general degrees and certificates in the latest year (94 of 146). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (71) and Hispanic or Latino (18), and international students earned 27.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Architectural History & Criticism, General Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees and 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks architectural history & criticism, general schools within 1 state. In all, 16 colleges offer architectural history & criticism, general programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Architectural History & Criticism, General Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common architectural history & criticism, general credential is the bachelor’s degree: 117 of the 146 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to architectural history & criticism, general call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Design, Building and Construction and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Written Expression and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an architectural history & criticism, general degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 117 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 25 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to architectural history & criticism, general, at 37.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.7% |
| Master’s degree | 30.2% |
| First professional degree | 20.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.5% |
| Some college courses | 1.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Architectural History & Criticism, General, with an average median salary of $103,245; the strongest outlook belongs to Architects, Except Landscape and Naval, at 1.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Green Building Materials Designer, Residential Green Building Designer, Location Worker and Facilities Planner.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to architectural history & criticism, general, at 362,012.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | 362,012 | 1.0% |
| Historians | 66,368 | -1.5% |
Architectural History & Criticism, General graduates earn a median $30,189 one year after completing their program, $66,286 after four years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,189 |
| 4 years | $66,286 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to architectural history & criticism, general, with a median salary of $116,710.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $116,710 |
| Historians | $89,780 |
Architectural History & Criticism, General has 2 similar majors in the Architecture/Urban Planning field, which together award 70 degrees a year; the largest are Architectural Studies (63) and Architectural Conservation (7). Browse all Architecture/Urban Planning majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Architectural Studies | 63 |
| Architectural Conservation | 7 |
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