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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best architecture Schools in the Great Lakes Region

10 Colleges in the United States
674 architecture Degrees Awarded
$47,332 Avg Early-Career Salary

architecture programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. 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 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for architecture students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for architecture in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall architecture education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in architecture

1

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2026 ranking of the best architecture schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 75 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $38,998 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree. Read more about the architecture program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

2

University Of Notre Dame is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in architecture, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 58 architecture students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $64,420 in their early career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $28,419 in student loans. More information about a degree in architecture from University Of Notre Dame

3

A rank of #3 makes Bowling Green State University Main Campus one of the top schools for architecture. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 11 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $45,196 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,449. More information about a degree in architecture from Bowling Green State University Main Campus

4

University Of Cincinnati Main 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 Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 88 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $44,598 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,600. Get the full architecture details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

5

Ball State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in architecture, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 88 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $55,889 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,670 to complete this degree. Read more about the architecture program at Ball State University

6

University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #6 among the best architecture schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 89 architecture students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $37,143 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,840 in student loans. Get the full architecture details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

7

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #7 spot for architecture this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 61 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $51,093 early in their careers. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full architecture details for Southern Illinois University Carbondale

8

Kent State University At Kent came in at #8 for architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 125 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,668 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full architecture program report for Kent State University At Kent

9

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #9 position for architecture this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. About 41 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $43,014 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full architecture program report for University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

10

Judson University placed #10 among the best architecture schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Judson University awarded about 38 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of Judson University earn a median of $48,301 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,221. Read more about the architecture program at Judson University

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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 · 13 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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