General Architecture 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.
College Factual analyzed 139 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general architecture schools.
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Choosing a Great General Architecture School
Where you study general architecture matters for your future. That is why we built our Best General Architecture Schools 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 General Architecture Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
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ADBLOCK #171
Best Schools for General Architecture in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general architecture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general architecture. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 75 general architecture degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the general architecture program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong general architecture program will find one at University Of Virginia Main Campus, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 89 general architecture students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general architecture degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $51,740. Typical student debt for the program is $23,965.
Get the full general architecture details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general architecture, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 51 general architecture students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general architecture degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $58,889 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,886.
More information about a degree in general architecture from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Students looking for a strong general architecture program will find one at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 21 general architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general architecture degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general architecture program at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Rice University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best general architecture schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Rice University awarded about 25 general architecture degrees in the most recent data year. General Architecture graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general architecture from Rice University
University Of California Berkeley landed the #6 spot for general architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 117 general architecture degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Students who receive their general architecture degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $50,917 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
See the full general architecture program report for University Of California Berkeley
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #7 position for general architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 133 general architecture degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. General Architecture graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $52,724 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $18,465 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general architecture from Texas A And M University College Station
Lehigh University came in at #8 for general architecture this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 16 general architecture degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general architecture degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general architecture program at Lehigh University
Brown University earned the #9 position for general architecture this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 general architecture students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general architecture degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,025 to complete this degree.
See the full general architecture program report for Brown University
University Of Maryland College Park placed #10 among the best general architecture schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 139 general architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general architecture degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $55,866 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,654.
Read more about the general architecture program at University Of Maryland College Park
Harvard University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general architecture schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 15 general architecture degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general architecture degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
See the full general architecture program report for Harvard University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best general architecture schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 75 general architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general architecture program make about $38,998 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree.
See the full general architecture program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Princeton University landed the #13 spot for general architecture this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. Princeton University awarded about 34 general architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general architecture degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general architecture from Princeton University
University Of Notre Dame came in at #14 for general architecture this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 58 general architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general architecture degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $64,420. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $28,419 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general architecture from University Of Notre Dame
Yale University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best general architecture schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 30 general architecture students who graduated with this degree at Yale University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general architecture degree from Yale University earn around $74,578 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #16 for general architecture this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 66 general architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general architecture program make about $55,967 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,423 to complete this degree.
See the full general architecture program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Clemson University came in at #17 for general 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. Clemson University awarded about 93 general architecture degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general architecture program make about $49,983 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general architecture program at Clemson University
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #18 spot for general architecture this year. 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 general architecture students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. General 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.
See the full general architecture program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Washington University In St Louis earned the #19 position for general architecture this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 17 general architecture students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general architecture degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
Read more about the general architecture program at Washington University In St Louis
Auburn University came in at #20 for general architecture this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 general architecture students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general architecture program make about $53,146 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
See the full general architecture program report for Auburn University
University Of Florida earned the #21 position for general architecture this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 148 general architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the general architecture program make about $51,102 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,843 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #22 spot for general architecture this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 55 general architecture degrees in the most recent data year. General Architecture graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $59,911 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general architecture program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #23 position for general architecture this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. About 97 general architecture degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Students who receive their general architecture degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $22,284 in student loans.
Read more about the general architecture program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Arizona State University landed the #24 spot for general architecture this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 168 general architecture degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. General Architecture graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $37,918 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,067 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general architecture from Arizona State University
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #25 spot for general architecture this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 108 general architecture degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Graduates of the general architecture program make about $57,514 in their early career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
Get the full general architecture details for California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Rest of the Top 50 General Architecture Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general architecture education:
The ranking above is published 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 · 139 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
