ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best architecture Schools in the Southwest Region

9 Colleges in the United States
1,132 architecture Degrees Awarded
$49,372 Avg Early-Career Salary

architecture is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for architecture students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/architecture/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/architecture/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/architecture/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/architecture/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/architecture/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/architecture/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/architecture/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget

Best Schools for architecture in the Southwest Region

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

Top Schools in architecture

1
Rice University crest
Rice University
Houston, TX

Our analysis ranked Rice University the best school in the country for a degree in architecture. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 25 architecture degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Rice University earn around $75,299 in the first couple years of their career. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. More information about a degree in architecture from Rice University

2

Texas A And M University College Station is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in architecture, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 133 architecture degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $52,724 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,465. Read more about the architecture program at Texas A And M University College Station

3

A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for architecture. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 55 architecture students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $59,911 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000. More information about a degree in architecture from The University Of Texas At Austin

4

Students looking for a strong architecture program will find one at Arizona State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 168 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from Arizona State University earn around $37,918 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,067 to complete this degree. Read more about the architecture program at Arizona State University

5

Texas Tech University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in architecture, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas Tech University awarded about 237 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $49,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,699. See the full architecture program report for Texas Tech University

6

The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #6 for architecture this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 97 architecture degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Architecture graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $51,144 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates carry a median of $23,535 in student loans. More information about a degree in architecture from The University Of Texas At Arlington

7

University Of Houston ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 106 architecture students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $49,388 early in their careers. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Get the full architecture details for University Of Houston

8

University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best architecture schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norman. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 10 architecture students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $58,084 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,138. See the full architecture program report for University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus

9

El Paso Community College landed the #9 spot for architecture this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. El Paso Community College awarded about 38 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete this degree. Read more about the architecture program at El Paso Community College

10

The University Of Texas At Brownsville landed the #10 spot for architecture this year. Located in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public university. The University Of Texas At Brownsville awarded about 20 architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture degree from The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn around $30,343 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Brownsville graduates carry a median of $10,058 in student loans. Get the full architecture details for The University Of Texas At Brownsville

11

The University Of Texas At San Antonio placed #11 among the best architecture schools. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 122 architecture students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At San Antonio in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $44,766 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in architecture from The University Of Texas At San Antonio

12

University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #12 spot for architecture this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 architecture degrees were awarded at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture program make about $49,983 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in architecture from University Of New Mexico Main Campus

13

Prairie View A And M University placed #13 among the best architecture schools. Set in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. There were roughly 60 architecture students who graduated with this degree at Prairie View A And M University in the most recent data year. Architecture graduates of Prairie View A And M University earn a median of $53,504 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,429 to complete this degree. See the full architecture program report for Prairie View A And M University

Narrow architecture Schools by State

ADBLOCK #173
View All architecture Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

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 · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options