by our College Data Analytics Teamarchitecture degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools to find the best for architecture students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall architecture education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best architecture schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 75 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. See the full architecture program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in architecture, ranking #2. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 architecture students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $56,926 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. More information about a degree in architecture from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Lehigh University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 16 architecture degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree. Get the full architecture details for Lehigh University
University Of Maryland College Park 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 suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 139 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $55,866 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,654 to complete this degree. See the full architecture program report for University Of Maryland College Park
A rank of #5 makes Princeton University one of the top schools for architecture. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 34 architecture degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888. See the full architecture program report for Princeton University
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 15 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University earn around $89,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529. See the full architecture program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Drexel University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 37 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Drexel University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Drexel University earn around $57,730 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. Get the full architecture details for Drexel University
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 21 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258. Get the full architecture details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #9 for architecture this year. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 56 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $54,334. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the architecture program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art landed the #10 spot for architecture this year. Located in the city of New York, Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art awarded about 28 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art earn around $16,678 in the first couple years of their career. Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art graduates carry a median of $16,805 in student loans. Get the full architecture details for Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art
University At Buffalo came in at #11 for architecture this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. About 61 architecture degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University At Buffalo earn around $37,622 in the first couple years of their career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,854 in student loans. Read more about the architecture program at University At Buffalo
Kean University landed the #12 spot for architecture this year. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. Kean University graduates 47% of students within six years. About 53 architecture degrees were awarded at Kean University in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $48,705 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full architecture program report for Kean University
Howard University earned the #13 position for architecture this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 architecture degrees were awarded at Howard University in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of Howard University earn a median of $58,495 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete this degree. See the full architecture program report for Howard University
Catholic University Of America ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Catholic University Of America graduates 80% of students within six years. Catholic University Of America awarded about 70 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Catholic University Of America generally make around $55,113. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full architecture details for Catholic University Of America
Marywood University placed #15 among the best architecture schools. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Marywood University awarded about 36 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Marywood University earn around $48,650 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. More information about a degree in architecture from Marywood University
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred came in at #16 for architecture this year. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public university. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred graduates 54% of students within six years. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred awarded about 19 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred generally make around $49,192. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in architecture from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred
University Of The District Of Columbia placed #17 among the best architecture schools. Located in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of The District Of Columbia awarded about 22 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from University Of The District Of Columbia earn around $57,060 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,304. Get the full architecture details for University Of The District Of Columbia
Morgan State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. Morgan State University is a large public school located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. About 22 architecture degrees were awarded at Morgan State University in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of Morgan State University earn a median of $26,282 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $30,500. More information about a degree in architecture from Morgan State University
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 · 27 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.