by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 42 U.S. colleges awarded 707 degrees and certificates in Environmental Design & Architecture. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 86% of graduates. College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Environmental Design & Architecture Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $40,905 one year after completing, rising to $56,693 after four years.
A major in Environmental Design & Architecture covers Environmental Design/architecture. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Design Public And Private Spaces, Indoor And Outdoor, For Leisure, Recreational, Commercial, And Living Purposes, And For Professional Practice As Environmental Designers And Architects. Includes Instruction In The Design And Planning Of Public And Private Open Spaces And Their Relationship To Buildings And Other Aspects Of The Built Environment; Facilities Management; Related Aspects Of Interior Design And Architecture, Landscape Architecture, And Urban Planning; And Professional Responsibilities And Standards.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, environmental design & architecture is a popular field of study, with 707 degrees awarded annually. 42 colleges award environmental design & architecture degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 172.
By level, the 707 awards include 4 associate degrees, 610 bachelor’s degrees, 71 master’s degrees and 22 doctorates.
Women earned 56% of environmental design & architecture degrees and certificates in the latest year (397 of 707). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (366) and Hispanic or Latino (148), and international students earned 44.
College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Environmental Design & Architecture Schools ranking, including 15 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks environmental design & architecture schools within 11 states. In all, 42 colleges offer environmental design & architecture programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common environmental design & architecture credential is the bachelor’s degree: 610 of the 707 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to environmental design & architecture call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Design, English Language and Building and Construction, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an environmental design & architecture degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 610 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 71 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 22 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to environmental design & architecture, at 43.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.5% |
| Master’s degree | 19.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.9% |
| First professional degree | 12.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Environmental Design & Architecture, with an average median salary of $92,500; the strongest outlook belongs to Landscape Architects, at 13.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Planner, Project Architect, Interior Design Faculty Member and Adjunct Professor.
The occupation related to environmental design & architecture with the most projected jobs is Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary, at 489,715.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 489,715 | 11.8% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | 362,012 | 1.0% |
| Landscape Architects | 210,994 | 13.6% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
Environmental Design & Architecture graduates earn a median $40,905 one year after completing their program, $56,693 after four years and $59,648 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,905 |
| 4 years | $56,693 |
| 5 years | $59,648 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to environmental design & architecture is Architects, Except Landscape and Naval, with a median salary of $116,710.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $116,710 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Landscape Architects | $88,491 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,757 |
Environmental Design & Architecture has 3 similar majors in the Architecture/Urban Planning field, which together award 66 degrees a year; the largest are Sustainable Design/Architecture (44), Healthcare Environment Design/Architecture (21) and Environmental Design, Other (1). Browse all Architecture/Urban Planning majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sustainable Design/Architecture | 44 |
| Healthcare Environment Design/Architecture | 21 |
| Environmental Design, Other | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
