Architecture & Related Services degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 67 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for architecture & related services students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall architecture & related services education in California.
University Of California San Diego is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in architecture & related services. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California San Diego awarded about 64 architecture & related services degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture & related services degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $60,797 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong architecture & related services program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong architecture & related services program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 259 architecture & related services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $58,511 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,633.
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University Of San Diego came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $68,281 in their early career. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $23,795 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong architecture & related services program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 263 architecture & related services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $54,813 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine placed #6 among the best architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $66,092 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University came in at #7 for architecture & related services this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 12 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $51,162 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,417.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #8 for architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 170 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $61,506 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
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California State University Sacramento placed #9 among the best architecture & related services schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $50,108. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #10 position for architecture & related services this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 256 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $57,101 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,899.
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University Of Southern California earned the #11 position for architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 396 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture & related services degree from University Of Southern California earn around $55,571 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,263.
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California State University Fresno landed the #12 spot for architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 13 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $49,502 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Francisco ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 35 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $37,556 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Diablo Valley College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best architecture & related services schools. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 36 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their architecture & related services degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
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California Baptist University placed #15 among the best architecture & related services schools. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. California Baptist University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at California Baptist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture & related services degree from California Baptist University earn around $51,999 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,169.
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Orange Coast College placed #16 among the best architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. Orange Coast College awarded about 65 architecture & related services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $46,306 in their early career. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans.
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Mt San Antonio College earned the #17 position for architecture & related services this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 125 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384.
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Southern California Institute Of Architecture ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best architecture & related services schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 180 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Southern California Institute Of Architecture in the most recent year.
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Art Center College Of Design landed the #19 spot for architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Art Center College Of Design graduates 79% of students within six years. About 21 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Art Center College Of Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $52,659 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $37,803.
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California College Of The Arts placed #20 among the best architecture & related services schools. California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at California College Of The Arts in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of California College Of The Arts earn a median of $76,381 early in their careers. California College Of The Arts graduates carry a median of $27,594 in student loans.
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Otis College Of Art And Design earned the #21 position for architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at Otis College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Otis College Of Art And Design earn a median of $21,440 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,292.
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Newschool Of Architecture And Design landed the #22 spot for architecture & related services this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 29%. About 52 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Newschool Of Architecture And Design in the most recent year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Newschool Of Architecture And Design earn a median of $56,119 early in their careers. Newschool Of Architecture And Design graduates carry a median of $39,251 in student loans.
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Pasadena City College placed #23 among the best architecture & related services schools. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. About 17 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Pasadena City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Typical student debt for the program is $9,191.
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Cerritos College placed #24 among the best architecture & related services schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norwalk. About 45 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete this degree.
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Cuesta College earned the #25 position for architecture & related services this year. Set in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public institution. About 11 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958.
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These schools rounded out the top of this year’s architecture & related services ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 67 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
