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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Architecture & Related Services Schools in California

6 Colleges in the United States
2,758 Architecture & Related Services Degrees Awarded
$54,653 Avg Early-Career Salary

Architecture & Related Services degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 67 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for architecture & related services students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall architecture & related services education in California.

1

University Of California San Diego is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in architecture & related services. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California San Diego awarded about 64 architecture & related services degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture & related services degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $60,797 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in architecture & related services from University Of California San Diego

2

Students looking for a strong architecture & related services program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. Read more about the architecture & related services program at San Jose State University

3

Students looking for a strong architecture & related services program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 259 architecture & related services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $58,511 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,633. Get the full architecture & related services details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

4

University Of San Diego came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $68,281 in their early career. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $23,795 in student loans. More information about a degree in architecture & related services from University Of San Diego

5

Students looking for a strong architecture & related services program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 263 architecture & related services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $54,813 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Get the full architecture & related services details for University Of California Berkeley

6

University Of California Irvine placed #6 among the best architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $66,092 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete this degree. See the full architecture & related services program report for University Of California Irvine

7

San Diego State University came in at #7 for architecture & related services this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 12 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $51,162 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,417. Get the full architecture & related services details for San Diego State University

8

University Of California Los Angeles came in at #8 for architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 170 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $61,506 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. See the full architecture & related services program report for University Of California Los Angeles

9

California State University Sacramento placed #9 among the best architecture & related services schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $50,108. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in architecture & related services from California State University Sacramento

10

California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #10 position for architecture & related services this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 256 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $57,101 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,899. See the full architecture & related services program report for California State Polytechnic University Pomona

11

University Of Southern California earned the #11 position for architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 396 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture & related services degree from University Of Southern California earn around $55,571 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,263. Read more about the architecture & related services program at University Of Southern California

12

California State University Fresno landed the #12 spot for architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 13 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $49,502 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree. Get the full architecture & related services details for California State University Fresno

13
University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 35 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $37,556 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in architecture & related services from University Of San Francisco

14
Diablo Valley College crest
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA

Diablo Valley College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best architecture & related services schools. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 36 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Students who receive their architecture & related services degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205. See the full architecture & related services program report for Diablo Valley College

15

California Baptist University placed #15 among the best architecture & related services schools. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. California Baptist University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at California Baptist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their architecture & related services degree from California Baptist University earn around $51,999 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,169. Read more about the architecture & related services program at California Baptist University

16
Orange Coast College crest
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA

Orange Coast College placed #16 among the best architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. Orange Coast College awarded about 65 architecture & related services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $46,306 in their early career. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Get the full architecture & related services details for Orange Coast College

17

Mt San Antonio College earned the #17 position for architecture & related services this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 125 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384. Get the full architecture & related services details for Mt San Antonio College

18

Southern California Institute Of Architecture ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best architecture & related services schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 180 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Southern California Institute Of Architecture in the most recent year. Get the full architecture & related services details for Southern California Institute Of Architecture

19

Art Center College Of Design landed the #19 spot for architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Art Center College Of Design graduates 79% of students within six years. About 21 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Art Center College Of Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the architecture & related services program make about $52,659 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $37,803. More information about a degree in architecture & related services from Art Center College Of Design

20

California College Of The Arts placed #20 among the best architecture & related services schools. California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at California College Of The Arts in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of California College Of The Arts earn a median of $76,381 early in their careers. California College Of The Arts graduates carry a median of $27,594 in student loans. Read more about the architecture & related services program at California College Of The Arts

21

Otis College Of Art And Design earned the #21 position for architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 architecture & related services students who graduated with this degree at Otis College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Otis College Of Art And Design earn a median of $21,440 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,292. See the full architecture & related services program report for Otis College Of Art And Design

22

Newschool Of Architecture And Design landed the #22 spot for architecture & related services this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 29%. About 52 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Newschool Of Architecture And Design in the most recent year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Newschool Of Architecture And Design earn a median of $56,119 early in their careers. Newschool Of Architecture And Design graduates carry a median of $39,251 in student loans. More information about a degree in architecture & related services from Newschool Of Architecture And Design

23

Pasadena City College placed #23 among the best architecture & related services schools. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. About 17 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Pasadena City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Typical student debt for the program is $9,191. Read more about the architecture & related services program at Pasadena City College

24
Cerritos College crest
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA

Cerritos College placed #24 among the best architecture & related services schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norwalk. About 45 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete this degree. Read more about the architecture & related services program at Cerritos College

25
Cuesta College crest
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA

Cuesta College earned the #25 position for architecture & related services this year. Set in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public institution. About 11 architecture & related services degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958. More information about a degree in architecture & related services from Cuesta College

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s architecture & related services ranking:

26
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA
27
Rio Hondo College crest
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA
28
Santa Monica College crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA
29
Ventura College crest
Ventura College
Ventura, CA
30
31
East Los Angeles College crest
East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, CA
32
Cosumnes River College crest
Cosumnes River College
Sacramento, CA
33
34
35
Bakersfield College crest
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield, CA
36

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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 · 67 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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