by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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. Continue reading for the important information every sustainable design/architecture major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering sustainable design/architecture programs.
Across the country, sustainable design/architecture draws strong interest, with 47 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Sustainable Design/Architecture Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for sustainable design/architecture students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of sustainable design/architecture programs later in this article.
Programs in Sustainable Design/Architecture build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations sustainable design/architecture graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a sustainable design/architecture program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a sustainable design/architecture major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several sustainable design/architecture degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 46 |
People currently working in careers related to sustainable design/architecture tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in sustainable design/architecture careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying sustainable design/architecture prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to sustainable design/architecture.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to sustainable design/architecture.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 489,715 | 11.8% |
| Urban and Regional Planners | 52,637 | 8.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of sustainable design/architecture graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,905 |
| 4 years | $52,970 |
| 5 years | $59,648 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for sustainable design/architecture graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers sustainable design/architecture grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Urban and Regional Planners | $66,890 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,757 |
With 3 different sustainable design/architecture programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased sustainable design/architecture school rankings to help you.
Students interested in sustainable design/architecture, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Environmental Design/Architecture | 658 |
| Healthcare Environment Design/Architecture | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
