by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.
General Architecture is the 127th most popular major in the country with 4,982 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, general architecture graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $49,005 and had an average of $26,624 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major” ranking, we looked at 146 colleges that offer a degree in general architecture. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their general architecture program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
The architecture school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for architecture students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The School of Architecture. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major. This small school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 7 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 35 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Out of the 146 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Judson University landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Elgin, Illinois, and it awarded 28 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Roger Williams University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major. Bristol, Rhode Island is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s architecture degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cranbrook Academy of Art. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major list. Cranbrook Academy of Art is a small school located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan that handed out 4 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Catholic University of America came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 92 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Architecture at Catholic University of America
Rhode Island School of Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking, coming in at #7. Rhode Island School of Design is a small school located in Providence, Rhode Island that handed out 30 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Rhode Island School of Design General Architecture Report
Drury University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s architecture degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.
Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major list. Hato Rey, is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s architecture degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.
Full Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico General Architecture Report
With a ranking of #10, Marywood University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major list. Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified ’s architecture students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 125 degrees to qualified ’s architecture students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Architecture at North Dakota State University
Prairie View A & M University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. PVAMU is a medium-sized public school situated in Prairie View, Texas. It awarded 62 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
Dunwoody College of Technology came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. Dunwoody College of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 14 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on General Architecture at Dunwoody College of Technology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. Located in Troy, New York, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 60 diplomas to qualified ’s architecture students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute General Architecture Report
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this medium-sized public school handed out 50 degrees to qualified ’s architecture students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Norwich University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major list. Northfield, Vermont is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s architecture degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Keene State College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. Keene State College is located in Keene, New Hampshire and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s architecture degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Architecture at Keene State College
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. Located in Ponce, , this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified ’s architecture students in 2020-2021.
Read more about General Architecture at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Ponce
With a ranking of #19, Morgan State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major list. Morgan State University is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s architecture degrees to qualified students.
Boston Architectural College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. Boston Architectural College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 4 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on General Architecture at Boston Architectural College
University of the District of Columbia came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. University of the District of Columbia is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s architecture degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on General Architecture at University of the District of Columbia
Kent State University at Kent landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school handed out 139 degrees to qualified ’s architecture students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Architecture at Kent State University at Kent
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 67 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Texas Tech University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major ranking. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s architecture degrees to 163 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about General Architecture at Texas Tech University
University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Architecture Major list. This large school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 99 ’s architecture degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about General Architecture at University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
