Environmental Design degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for environmental design students pursuing a degree.
The environmental design program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Environmental Design rankings. For our Best Overall Environmental Design School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Environmental Design Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than Texas A And M University College Station this year for environmental design. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 14 environmental design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
See the full environmental design program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Students looking for a strong environmental design program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 environmental design students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the environmental design program make about $95,207 in their early career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Get the full environmental design details for Harvard University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in environmental design, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 53 environmental design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $59,622. Students borrow a median of $25,759 to complete this degree.
Get the full environmental design details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Auburn University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in environmental design, ranking #4. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Auburn University awarded about 34 environmental design degrees in the most recent data year. Environmental Design graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $44,929 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $25,375 in student loans.
More information about a degree in environmental design from Auburn University
University Of California Berkeley is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in environmental design, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 environmental design students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their environmental design degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $70,847 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
Read more about the environmental design program at University Of California Berkeley
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #6 among the best environmental design schools. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Colorado Boulder awarded about 172 environmental design degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the environmental design program make about $42,401 in their early career. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans.
Get the full environmental design details for University Of Colorado Boulder
Stony Brook University earned the #7 position for environmental design this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stony Brook University awarded about 20 environmental design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in environmental design from Stony Brook University
University At Buffalo landed the #8 spot for environmental design this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 56 environmental design degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Environmental Design graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $37,952 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,669 to complete this degree.
Read more about the environmental design program at University At Buffalo
Boston Architectural College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best environmental design schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston Architectural College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 32% of students finish within six years. Boston Architectural College awarded about 14 environmental design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from Boston Architectural College generally make around $62,409. Typical student debt for the program is $53,192.
See the full environmental design program report for Boston Architectural College
University Of Oregon earned the #10 position for environmental design this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 12 environmental design students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oregon in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of Oregon generally make around $44,628. Students borrow a median of $22,034 to complete this degree.
Read more about the environmental design program at University Of Oregon
Arizona State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best environmental design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 22 environmental design degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their environmental design degree from Arizona State University earn around $37,226 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the environmental design program at Arizona State University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best environmental design schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Honolulu. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 38 environmental design students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $37,849. Students borrow a median of $22,047 to complete this degree.
Get the full environmental design details for University Of Hawaii At Manoa
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best environmental design schools. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates 64% of students within six years. North Dakota State University Main Campus awarded about 14 environmental design degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $54,076. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete this degree.
Get the full environmental design details for North Dakota State University Main Campus
University Of Memphis came in at #14 for environmental design this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 environmental design students who graduated with this degree at University Of Memphis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their environmental design degree from University Of Memphis earn around $48,890 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,315.
Read more about the environmental design program at University Of Memphis
University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned the #15 position for environmental design this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 environmental design students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $49,983. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans.
See the full environmental design program report for University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #16 among the best environmental design schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. About 61% of students finish within six years. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 30 environmental design degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their environmental design degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $43,843 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the environmental design program at Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Florida Atlantic University earned the #17 position for environmental design this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Boca Raton. Florida Atlantic University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 environmental design students who graduated with this degree at Florida Atlantic University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $49,340. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250.
See the full environmental design program report for Florida Atlantic University
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras landed the #18 spot for environmental design this year. This large public university is located in the city of San Juan. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 67 environmental design students who graduated with this degree at University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras in the most recent data year. Students who receive their environmental design degree from University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earn around $24,881 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
Read more about the environmental design program at University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 18 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
