by our College Data Analytics Teamarchitecture programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 128 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for architecture students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
The architecture program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for architecture rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best architecture Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall architecture education, regardless of degree level.
Leading the list is Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, our #1 school for architecture. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 75 architecture degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Read more about the architecture program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in architecture, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 89 architecture students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $51,740 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,965. See the full architecture program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 architecture students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $58,889 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,886 to complete this degree. Read more about the architecture program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in architecture, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 21 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Read more about the architecture program at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Students looking for a strong architecture program will find one at Rice University, which ranked #5. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Rice University earn around $75,299 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904. Read more about the architecture program at Rice University
University Of California Berkeley came in at #6 for architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 117 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $50,917 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree. Get the full architecture details for University Of California Berkeley
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 133 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $52,724 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,465. Read more about the architecture program at Texas A And M University College Station
Lehigh University landed the #8 spot for architecture this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 16 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree. Get the full architecture details for Lehigh University
Brown University came in at #9 for architecture this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 architecture degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree. See the full architecture program report for Brown University
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #10 for architecture this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. About 139 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $55,866 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,654 to complete this degree. Get the full architecture details for University Of Maryland College Park
Harvard University landed the #11 spot for architecture this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 15 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Get the full architecture details for Harvard University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #12 position for architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 75 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $38,998 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,750. Get the full architecture details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Princeton University placed #13 among the best architecture schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 34 architecture degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888. See the full architecture program report for Princeton University
University Of Notre Dame placed #14 among the best architecture schools. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 58 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $64,420. Students borrow a median of $28,419 to complete this degree. Get the full architecture details for University Of Notre Dame
Yale University earned the #15 position for architecture this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 30 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Read more about the architecture program at Yale University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #16 position for architecture this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 66 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $55,967 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $20,423 in student loans. See the full architecture program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Clemson University earned the #17 position for architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 93 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Clemson University earn around $49,983 in the first couple years of their career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in architecture from Clemson University
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #18 for architecture this year. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 15 architecture degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree. Get the full architecture details for Carnegie Mellon University
Washington University In St Louis earned the #19 position for architecture this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 15 architecture degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in architecture from Washington University In St Louis
Auburn University earned the #20 position for architecture this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 62 architecture degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $53,146. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Read more about the architecture program at Auburn University
University Of Florida landed the #21 spot for architecture this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 148 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $51,102 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,843 in student loans. See the full architecture program report for University Of Florida
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #22 for architecture this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 architecture students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $59,911 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in architecture from The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #23 for architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 97 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $50,332 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $22,284 in student loans. Read more about the architecture program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Arizona State University placed #24 among the best architecture schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arizona State University awarded about 168 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $37,918 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,067. Get the full architecture details for Arizona State University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 108 architecture students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $57,514 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000. Read more about the architecture program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona
These schools also placed among the best for architecture this year:
View the Best architecture Schools for a specific region near you.
Explore other rankings in majors related to architecture. Browse the parent area of study.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 128 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
