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CIP 04.0201 Architecture

Architecture

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

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Total graduates

4,466

2025 · 104 schools

International share

7.1%

317 international students

Bachelor's degrees

3,712

5.5% international

Master's degrees

572

11.0% international

Overview

Architecture is a multifaceted discipline that combines art, science, and technology to design and create buildings and other physical structures. It encompasses various elements, including aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, and environmental impact. Students pursuing a degree in architecture often engage in a rigorous curriculum that covers design principles, architectural history, structural engineering, and urban planning, among other topics.

Typically, an undergraduate program in architecture lasts five years and culminates in a Bachelor of Architecture degree. This is often followed by a Master of Architecture for those who wish to specialize further or enhance their expertise. Architecture programs emphasize hands-on experience through design studios, where students develop their practical skills by working on real-world projects, often using advanced software for modeling and visualization.

Professional licensure is essential for architects, which typically involves completing a degree from an accredited program, gaining practical experience through internships, and passing the Architect Registration Examination.

The field of architecture is continually evolving, responding to technological advancements, changing societal needs, and increasing environmental concerns. Modern architects are increasingly focusing on sustainable design practices, incorporating renewable energy sources, and creating spaces that promote well-being and community engagement.

Overall, a career in architecture can be incredibly rewarding, offering the opportunity to shape the built environment and impact the lives of individuals and communities. It is a field that demands creativity, critical thinking, and a passion for design and innovation.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates fell 42% and the international share went from 14.4% to 7.1%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
43.5%
Asian
9.2%
Hispanic
26.9%
Black
6.4%
Other
6.9%
Intl.
7.1%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 104 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts 24 10
#2 Princeton University New Jersey 28 8
#3 Harvard University Massachusetts 2 0
#4 Yale University Connecticut 23 2
#7 University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 25 4
#12 Columbia University in the City of New York New York 23 3
#14 Carnegie Mellon University Pennsylvania 11 6
#16 Washington University in St Louis Missouri 9 2
#16 Brown University Rhode Island 10 2
#16 Rice University Texas 26 13
#20 University of California-Berkeley California 108 25
#20 University of California-Los Angeles California 21 3
#20 University of Notre Dame Indiana 56 8
#25 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Michigan 86 16
#26 University of Virginia-Main Campus Virginia 69 4
#27 University of Southern California California 9 1
#29 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Georgia 8 6
#31 Tufts University Massachusetts 18 2
#34 University of Florida Florida 145 1
#34 The University of Texas at Austin Texas 58 3
#44 Lehigh University Pennsylvania 30 0
#49 University of Maryland-College Park Maryland 2 0
#49 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Washington 92 3
#52 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia 8 8
#55 The Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania 56 4
#59 Tulane University of Louisiana Louisiana 22 1
#59 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minnesota 98 4
#59 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pennsylvania 44 1
#59 Texas A & M University-College Station Texas 151 14
#69 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute New York 59 3
#73 Howard University D.C. 57 3
#73 North Carolina State University at Raleigh North Carolina 34 0
#80 Drexel University Pennsylvania 44 0
#80 Clemson University South Carolina 113 1
#85 University at Buffalo New York 62 8
#95 University of Illinois at Chicago Illinois 105 13
#100 Auburn University Alabama 65 9
#100 University of South Florida-Main Campus Florida 53 7
#116 University of San Francisco California 37 4
#116 University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Oklahoma 29 4
#121 Arizona State University-Tempe Arizona 205 19
#121 University of Central Florida Florida 41 2
#137 University of Houston Texas 112 4
#148 Catholic University of America D.C. 2 0
#169 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska 1 0
#169 University of North Carolina at Charlotte North Carolina 69 2
#179 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Ohio 83 5
#186 Texas Tech University Texas 180 6
#191 Samford University Alabama 12 0
#191 University of Arkansas Arkansas 78 1
#208 California State University--Fresno California 37 0
#208 Mississippi State University Mississippi 45 0
#227 Ball State University Indiana 72 0
#227 University of Texas-San Antonio Texas 141 4
#236 University of Nevada--Las Vegas Nevada 31 0
#236 University of New Mexico-Main Campus New Mexico 55 3
#236 North Dakota State University-Main Campus North Dakota 109 3
#236 Kent State University at Kent Ohio 4 0
#236 Portland State University Oregon 49 1
#236 University of Texas-Arlington Texas 133 4
#276 Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Ohio 15 1
#288 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Illinois 65 6
#288 University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee Wisconsin 151 1
#317 Morgan State University Maryland 29 1
#317 Ferris State University Michigan 4 0
#317 Kean University New Jersey 33 2
#317 Prairie View A&M University Texas 57 1
#353 University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Puerto Rico 47 0
#382 Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Puerto Rico 24 0
#382 Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus Puerto Rico 5 0
LAC #10 Wellesley College Massachusetts 9 1
LAC #19 Middlebury College Vermont 19 4
LAC #47 Connecticut College Connecticut 14 2
LAC #132 Bennington College Vermont 2 1
— California State Polytechnic University-Pomona California 116 5
— El Paso Community College Texas 52 2
— Marywood University Pennsylvania 44 0
— Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 41 0
— Judson University Illinois 40 8
— Drury University Missouri 36 1
— Norwich University Vermont 29 3
— The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art New York 25 5
— Keene State College New Hampshire 23 0
— Louisiana Tech University Louisiana 19 1
— Brookdale Community College New Jersey 18 1
— Utah Valley University Utah 18 0
— Texas Southmost College Texas 17 1
— SUNY College of Technology at Alfred New York 16 0
— Benedictine College Kansas 10 0
— Ithaca College New York 10 0
— Hampton University Virginia 10 0
— University of Maine at Augusta Maine 8 0
— Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Mississippi 8 0
— University of the District of Columbia D.C. 7 1
— Holmes Community College Mississippi 7 0
— Austin Community College District Texas 5 0
— Dallas College Texas 5 0
— Itawamba Community College Mississippi 4 0
— Boston Architectural College Massachusetts 3 0
— Cranbrook Academy of Art Michigan 3 1
— California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo California 2 1
— SUNY College of Technology at Delhi New York 2 0
— Hampshire College Massachusetts 1 0
— Truckee Meadows Community College Nevada 1 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Architectural and Engineering Managers 220,260 $87.28 $181,540
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval 106,770 $51.09 $106,260
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary 7,700 — $101,250

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.