by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 3 U.S. colleges awarded 44 degrees and certificates in Sustainable Design/Architecture. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 91% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $40,905 one year after completing, rising to $56,693 after four years.
A major in Sustainable Design/Architecture covers A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Biological, Physical, And Social Science In The Design Of Sustainable Cities And Metropolitan Regions. Includes Instruction In Community Revitalization, Community Economic Development, Construction Technology, Design Innovation, Environmental Economics, Ethics, Justice And Politics, Sustainable Materials, Sustainability Theory, Structural Materials, And Urbanism.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, sustainable design/architecture draws strong interest, with 44 degrees awarded annually. 3 colleges award sustainable design/architecture degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 33.
By level, the 44 awards include 4 bachelor’s degrees and 40 master’s degrees.
Women earned 66% of sustainable design/architecture degrees and certificates in the latest year (29 of 44). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (20) and Hispanic or Latino (8), and international students earned 9.
The most common sustainable design/architecture credential is the master’s degree: 40 of the 44 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to sustainable design/architecture call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Design and Building and Construction, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a sustainable design/architecture degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 40 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to sustainable design/architecture, at 40.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 40.2% |
| First professional degree | 18.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 16.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Sustainable Design/Architecture, with an average median salary of $66,824; the strongest outlook belongs to Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary, at 11.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Landscape Architecture Professor, Adjunct Instructor, Lecturer and Faculty Member.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to sustainable design/architecture, at 489,715.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 489,715 | 11.8% |
| Urban and Regional Planners | 52,637 | 8.1% |
Sustainable 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 sustainable design/architecture is Urban and Regional Planners, with a median salary of $66,890.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Urban and Regional Planners | $66,890 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,757 |
Sustainable Design/Architecture has 3 similar majors in the Architecture/Urban Planning field, which together award 729 degrees a year; the largest are Environmental Design/Architecture (707), 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 |
|---|---|
| Environmental Design/Architecture | 707 |
| Healthcare Environment Design/Architecture | 21 |
| Environmental Design, Other | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.