Only 29 colleges in the country offer Architecture, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $62,161.
Architecture is a specialized field of study. Graduates typically earn around $62,161 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 29 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 206 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Architecture graduates earn $62,161 four years out, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,941 and $72,807. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $29,900 climbs to $62,161 by year four.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
Near the national median for college graduates.
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
There is a moderate earnings spread across Architecture graduates. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $62,161 and an estimated $76,544 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.4 years.
Based on outcomes from 18 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Of the 206 students who complete Architecture programs each year, the majority (65%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
Architecture connects to 8 occupations in the job market. Architectural & Engineering Manager leads at $171,270/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
The 13 colleges below are ranked by how many Architecture students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
| # | College | Graduates | Acceptance | Net Price/yr | Earnings 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA · Public | 38 | 86.4% | $11,864 | $52,279 |
| 2 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA · Public | 34 | 87% | $13,530 | $47,089 |
| 3 | Hobart William Smith Colleges Geneva, NY · Nonprofit | 28 | 64% | $31,563 | $68,831 |
| 4 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA · Public | 15 | 16.8% | $21,565 | $86,863 |
| 5 | New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit | 9 | 9.2% | $37,050 | $82,509 |
| 6 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA · Nonprofit | 8 | 36% | $26,441 | $58,418 |
| 7 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI · Public | 7 | Open | $12,285 | $46,297 |
| 8 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS · Public | 6 | 81.7% | $19,406 | $57,262 |
| 9 | Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJ · Public | 6 | Open | $5,279 | $43,264 |
| 10 | Ball State University Muncie, IN · Public | 2 | 85.5% | $14,940 | $51,833 |
| 11 | Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI · Nonprofit | 2 | 81.9% | $12,547 | $53,187 |
| 12 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit | 1 | 9.8% | $32,740 | $92,498 |
| 13 | Portland State University Portland, OR · Public | 1 | 90.9% | $9,552 | $57,906 |
Ranked by Architecture graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Architecture program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.
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The data on Architecture shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
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