by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 9 U.S. colleges awarded 63 degrees and certificates in Architectural Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 97% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Architectural Studies 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.
A major in Architectural Studies explores A Program That Focuses On The Study Of Architecture, Cities, Landscapes, Designed Objects, Ornament, Architectural Photography, And Material Culture In Diverse Places And Time Periods, And The Social And Aesthetic Dimensions Of Contemporary Architecture, Landscapes, And Cities, Emphasizing Issues Of Sustainable Environments, New Forms Of Urbanism, And The Use Of Digital Media For Visualization And Analysis. Includes Instruction In The Fundamentals Of Architecture, Design, Environmental And Sustainability Studies, Historic Preservation, Landscape Architecture, Studio Art, And Urban Affairs And Planning.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, architectural studies is a widely-pursued major, with 63 degrees awarded annually. 9 colleges award architectural studies degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 15.
By level, the 63 awards include 61 bachelor’s degrees and 2 master’s degrees.
Women earned 67% of architectural studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (42 of 63). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (42) and Hispanic or Latino (3), and international students earned 7.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Architectural Studies Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks architectural studies schools within 1 state. In all, 9 colleges offer architectural studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Architectural Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common architectural studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 61 of the 63 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to architectural studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Design, English Language and Building and Construction, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an architectural studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 61 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to architectural studies, at 44.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.6% |
| First professional degree | 20.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.4% |
| Master’s degree | 10.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Architectural Studies, with an average median salary of $66,757; the strongest outlook belongs to Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary, at 11.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, Architectural Design Professor, Associate Professor and Interior Design Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to architectural studies, at 489,715.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 489,715 | 11.8% |
Architectural Studies 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 studies, with a median salary of $66,757.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,757 |
Architectural Studies has 2 similar majors in the Architecture/Urban Planning field, which together award 153 degrees a year; the largest are Architectural History and Criticism, General (146) and Architectural Conservation (7). Browse all Architecture/Urban Planning majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Architectural History and Criticism, General | 146 |
| Architectural Conservation | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
