architecture 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.
College Factual analyzed 78 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best architecture schools.
The architecture program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best architecture Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best architecture Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for architecture in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the architecture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus, our #1 school for architecture. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 44 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $56,926 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in architecture from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
A rank of #2 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for architecture. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 69 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $51,740. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,965 in student loans.
See the full architecture program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong architecture program will find one at Rice University, which ranked #3. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. Rice University awarded about 26 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $75,299 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
Read more about the architecture program at Rice University
Lehigh University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in architecture, ranking #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 30 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
Get the full architecture details for Lehigh University
University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in architecture, ranking #5. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 108 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $50,917 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in architecture from University Of California Berkeley
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #6 among the best architecture schools. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 architecture students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $58,889. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $25,886 in student loans.
Get the full architecture details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Pennsylvania placed #7 among the best architecture schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $99,682 in their early career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
More information about a degree in architecture from University Of Pennsylvania
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #8 for architecture this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 151 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $52,724. Students borrow a median of $18,465 to complete this degree.
Read more about the architecture program at Texas A And M University College Station
Tufts University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best architecture schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 18 architecture degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $68,154 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree.
Get the full architecture details for Tufts University
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #10 spot for architecture this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 58 architecture degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $59,911. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
Get the full architecture details for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #11 position for architecture this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 92 architecture students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $55,967 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,423.
See the full architecture program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Clemson University earned the #12 position for architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Clemson University awarded about 126 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
Get the full architecture details for Clemson University
Princeton University placed #13 among the best architecture schools. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 28 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
Read more about the architecture program at Princeton University
University Of Florida earned the #14 position for architecture this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 153 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University Of Florida earn around $51,102 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,843.
More information about a degree in architecture from University Of Florida
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best architecture schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 86 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $38,998 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree.
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Yale University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best architecture schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
See the full architecture program report for Yale University
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #17 among the best architecture schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 24 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $113,129 in the first couple years of their career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
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University Of Notre Dame ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best architecture schools. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 56 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $64,420 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,419.
See the full architecture program report for University Of Notre Dame
Brown University earned the #19 position for architecture this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. About 10 architecture degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
Read more about the architecture program at Brown University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #20 for architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 56 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $60,898. Typical student debt for the program is $30,440.
Read more about the architecture program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Middlebury College came in at #21 for architecture this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 19 architecture degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans.
More information about a degree in architecture from Middlebury College
Auburn University earned the #22 position for architecture this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. Auburn University awarded about 65 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Auburn University earn around $53,146 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full architecture details for Auburn University
California State University Fresno placed #23 among the best architecture schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Fresno awarded about 37 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $49,502 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598.
Read more about the architecture program at California State University Fresno
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #24 for architecture this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 11 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Get the full architecture details for Carnegie Mellon University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best architecture schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 116 architecture students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $57,514 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
Read more about the architecture program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Rest of the Top 50 architecture Schools
These schools also placed among the best for architecture this year:
architecture is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 78 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).
