by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 30 U.S. colleges awarded 1,269 degrees and certificates in Architectural Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 77% of graduates. College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Architectural Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $76,177 one year after completing, rising to $90,419 after four years.
Are you interested in the art and science of designing buildings? If so, architectural engineering could be the major for you. In this major you learn about the planning, design, construction, and operation of engineering systems. This is used for all different types of buildings and includes aspects like fire protection, heating ventilating, air conditioning, electrical systems, lighting, and plumbing. These are really important features in modern buildings, although they may not be noticed by the average person.
Some of the classes you will take in this major are the fundamentals of engineering, architectural design, architectural history, steel and reinforced concrete design, construction methods, computer programming, math, and surveying.
A major in Architectural Engineering explores Architectural Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., architectural engineering draws strong interest, with 1,269 degrees awarded annually. 30 colleges award architectural engineering degrees, an average of 42 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 227.
By level, the 1,269 awards include 976 bachelor’s degrees, 260 master’s degrees and 33 doctorates.
Women earned 42% of architectural engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (538 of 1,269). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (753) and Hispanic or Latino (171), and international students earned 94.
College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Architectural Engineering Schools ranking, including 26 for bachelor’s degrees and 6 for master’s degrees. It also ranks architectural engineering schools within 17 states. In all, 30 colleges offer architectural engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Architectural Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common architectural engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 976 of the 1,269 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to architectural engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Design and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
In order to be successful you should enjoy math and science. The principles of calculus and other advanced mathematic will be used regularly for analyzing, designing, and troubleshooting your work. These skills will lead to more advanced problem solving methods. This is important in any engineering field. Another important skill is to be a creative thinker. In the architectural field you could be working with old and new structures and need to creatively come up with solutions to problems.
Engineers frequently work on teams, making good communication skills essential to success. You will be working with other professionals to make sure buildings are up to code. You will be required to clearly explain what needs to be done and how it needs to be done, as well as listen to the other members of your team. Although teamwork is important in this field, you will also have times where you are working on your own.
Most programs will require professional internship either during the semester of over the summer. Some colleges will require you to complete a five year program in this field.
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How long an architectural engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 976 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 260 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 33 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to architectural engineering, at 32.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 32.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 27.8% |
| Master’s degree | 11.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 6.6% |
| First professional degree | 3.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
13 occupations are related to Architectural Engineering, with an average median salary of $90,514; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include University Faculty Member, College Professor, Instructor and Lecturer.
This major prepares you to become an Architectural Engineer. In this position you will help create the physical environment of everyday life. You will work with architects during design, and help with the construction process of choosing materials, and working within building codes. This field allows you to design and help build a structure.
The occupation related to architectural engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 489,715 | 11.8% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
Architectural Engineering graduates earn a median $76,177 one year after completing their program, $90,419 after four years and $94,005 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $76,177 |
| 4 years | $90,419 |
| 5 years | $94,005 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to architectural engineering is Engineers, All Other, with a median salary of $136,628.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Photonics Engineers | $84,667 |
Architectural Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Architectural Engineering (1,269). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 201,766 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Architectural Engineering | 1,269 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
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