Architecture

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$50,190

Median Earnings

$67,425

Schools Offering

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $62,803Median: $67,42575th: $71,292

Best Schools for Architecture by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	University of Notre Dame IN · Private	97	$82,983	$26,780	$28,419	C+
2	Boston Architectural College MA · Private	43	$82,268	$25,865	$53,192	D
3	Pratt Institute-Main NY · Private	41	$78,206	$52,659	N/A	-
4	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA · Public	89	$76,969	$11,531	$28,000	C+
5	The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public	90	$76,808	$19,857	$21,000	B
6	North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public	87	$76,695	$17,303	$25,886	C+
7	University of California-Berkeley CA · Public	97	$76,679	$13,481	$15,000	B+
8	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public	96	$76,613	$16,665	$27,500	C+
9	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public	62	$76,181	$32,875	$30,440	C+
10	University of Miami FL · Private	78	$75,633	$37,244	N/A	-
11	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY · Private	93	$75,551	$36,228	$31,000	C
12	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$75,074	$24,953	$29,000	C+
13	University of Arizona AZ · Public	75	$74,972	$16,674	N/A	-
14	Newschool of Architecture and Design CA · Private	38	$74,587	$52,570	N/A	-
15	Northeastern University MA · Private	91	$74,540	$30,915	$27,500	B
16	Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private	97	$73,439	$31,944	N/A	-
17	Drexel University PA · Private	82	$72,915	$38,509	$31,000	C+
18	University of Nevada-Las Vegas NV · Public	67	$72,468	$10,359	$20,000	B+
19	Auburn University AL · Public	76	$72,420	$24,323	$28,000	C+
20	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public	97	$71,292	$12,116	$28,192	C
21	Kennesaw State University GA · Public	60	$70,752	$15,048	$31,000	C+
22	University of Houston TX · Public	80	$70,616	$14,276	$26,250	C+
23	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public	83	$70,383	$15,300	N/A	-
24	University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public	95	$70,213	$21,565	$23,965	C+
25	Drury University MO · Private	26	$70,134	$20,831	$31,000	C
26	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OK · Public	70	$70,123	$17,447	N/A	-
27	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University FL · Public	28	$69,874	$13,739	$27,000	B
28	The Catholic University of America DC · Private	77	$69,838	$29,561	$27,000	C
29	Mississippi State University MS · Public	54	$69,699	$17,595	$31,000	C
30	University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public	94	$69,515	$14,091	$20,423	B
31	Iowa State University IA · Public	79	$69,310	$18,589	$31,000	C
32	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LA · Public	76	$69,029	$19,151	$26,500	C
33	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN · Public	73	$68,765	$18,976	$31,000	C
34	University of Maryland-College Park MD · Public	94	$68,527	$15,678	$22,654	C+
35	Illinois Institute of Technology IL · Private	92	$68,358	$18,425	$31,000	C
36	University of Utah UT · Public	84	$67,987	$16,200	N/A	-
37	University of Arkansas AR · Public	69	$67,955	$18,209	$27,250	C+
38	Woodbury University CA · Private	51	$67,517	$33,692	$41,750	D
39	University of Oregon OR · Public	68	$67,425	$22,182	$19,500	B
40	University of Florida FL · Public	92	$67,399	$6,541	$19,843	C+
41	University of North Carolina at Charlotte NC · Public	68	$67,204	$15,435	$27,000	C+
42	Marywood University PA · Private	51	$67,178	$23,388	$31,000	C
43	Wentworth Institute of Technology MA · Private	82	$67,122	$34,170	$25,000	C+
44	New Jersey Institute of Technology NJ · Public	92	$66,840	$16,504	N/A	-
45	Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public	77	$66,131	$17,339	$27,000	D
46	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus OH · Public	55	$65,449	$25,648	$22,600	C+
47	North Dakota State University-Main Campus ND · Public	80	$65,148	$15,543	$27,000	B
48	Roger Williams University RI · Private	63	$65,092	$37,999	$27,000	D
49	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$65,015	$13,138	$18,750	C+
50	University of Central Florida FL · Public	79	$64,826	$10,411	$13,250	B

Fair Value

Is Architecture Worth It?

Worth It - With the Right School

Architecture offers moderate financial returns. Average earnings of $50,190 four years after graduation are close to the national median for all bachelor's degree holders. The financial case works at affordable schools but gets shakier as tuition rises. Choose your school carefully.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 81 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.

The top school for this major by earnings is Pratt Institute-Main, where graduates earn $78,206 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Architecture All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

Related Majors

Civil Engineering Art And Design

Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.