by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Environmental Design & Architecture covers Environmental Design/architecture. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Design Public And Private Spaces, Indoor And Outdoor, For Leisure, Recreational, Commercial, And Living Purposes, And For Professional Practice As Environmental Designers And Architects. Includes Instruction In The Design And Planning Of Public And Private Open Spaces And Their Relationship To Buildings And Other Aspects Of The Built Environment; Facilities Management; Related Aspects Of Interior Design And Architecture, Landscape Architecture, And Urban Planning; And Professional Responsibilities And Standards. Continue reading for the important information every environmental design & architecture major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering environmental design & architecture programs.
Nationwide, environmental design & architecture is a popular field of study, with 658 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Environmental Design & Architecture Schools ranking analyzes these 38 schools to determine the best overall colleges for environmental design & architecture students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of environmental design & architecture programs later in this article.
Programs in Environmental Design & Architecture emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations environmental design & architecture graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a environmental design & architecture program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a environmental design & architecture major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several environmental design & architecture degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 549 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 66 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 39 |
People currently working in careers related to environmental design & architecture tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.5% |
| Master’s degree | 19.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.9% |
| First professional degree | 12.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in environmental design & architecture careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying environmental design & architecture opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to environmental design & architecture.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to environmental design & architecture.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | 489,715 | 11.8% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | 362,012 | 1.0% |
| Landscape Architects | 210,994 | 13.6% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of environmental design & architecture graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,905 |
| 4 years | $52,970 |
| 5 years | $59,648 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for environmental design & architecture graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers environmental design & architecture grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $116,710 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Landscape Architects | $88,491 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,757 |
With 38 different environmental design & architecture programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased environmental design & architecture school rankings to help you.
Those considering environmental design & architecture, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sustainable Design/Architecture | 47 |
| Healthcare Environment Design/Architecture | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
