by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Architecture](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a general architecture degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 57 schools to find where general architecture graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
The general architecture program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. That is why we developed our Highest Paid General Architecture Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its general architecture graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid General Architecture Graduates list, to help you choose. 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.
If you want to know which schools send general architecture graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of Southern California the top school for general architecture graduate earnings in the United States. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. General Architecture graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of about $76,673 a year early in their careers.
Northeastern University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general architecture, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Architecture graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of about $76,670 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in general architecture will find them at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #3. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. General Architecture graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $75,908 a year early in their careers.
Tulane University Of Louisiana produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general architecture, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general architecture degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana typically earn about $71,413 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Boston Architectural College earned it the #5 place for general architecture. Located in the city of Boston, Boston Architectural College is a private not-for-profit institution. General Architecture graduates of Boston Architectural College earn a median of about $90,996 a year early in their careers.
University Of Notre Dame placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for general architecture. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general architecture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,022.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #7 for general architecture graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career general architecture graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus make a median of around $68,574 per year.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general architecture schools. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Norman. Students who complete the general architecture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,563.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #9 for general architecture graduate earnings this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Students who complete the general architecture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,979.
Drexel University earned the #10 position for general architecture graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general architecture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,516.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas earned the #11 position for general architecture graduate earnings this year. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public school located in the city of Las Vegas. After graduating, general architecture degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas typically earn about $64,041 annually.
Prairie View A And M University earned the #12 position for general architecture graduate earnings this year. Prairie View A And M University is a public school located in the rural area of Prairie View. Students who complete the general architecture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,882.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned the #13 position for general architecture graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general architecture graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute make a median of around $74,873 per year.
University Of California Berkeley landed the #14 spot for general architecture salaries this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. General Architecture graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $79,951 a year early in their careers.
Auburn University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general architecture schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Students who complete the general architecture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,187.
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general architecture schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school located in the city of Austin. After graduating, general architecture degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin typically earn about $69,182 annually.
Drury University came in at #17 for general architecture graduate earnings this year. Drury University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. After graduating, general architecture degree recipients from Drury University typically earn about $70,128 annually.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general architecture schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career general architecture graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $60,803 per year.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #19 for general architecture graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career general architecture graduates from University Of Virginia Main Campus make a median of around $73,156 per year.
Mississippi State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general architecture schools. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. General Architecture graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of about $70,060 a year early in their careers.
Ball State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general architecture schools. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a public institution. General Architecture graduates of Ball State University earn a median of about $62,012 a year early in their careers.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned the #22 position for general architecture graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the general architecture program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,993.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #23 position for general architecture graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. After graduating, general architecture degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte typically earn about $67,248 annually.
University Of Arkansas came in at #24 for general architecture graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. Early-career general architecture graduates from University Of Arkansas make a median of around $67,687 per year.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for general architecture. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. General Architecture graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of about $57,034 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid general architecture ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their general architecture graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 57 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
