2026 Best Architectural History Schools
Looking for the best Architectural History programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 33 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Architectural History Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Harvard University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Set in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $61,676. Typical Architectural History student debt is $16,616. Get the full Harvard University report
A rank of #2 makes Rice University one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rice University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Typical Architectural History student debt is $11,904. Get the full Rice University report
A rank of #3 makes Cornell University one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,314. Typical Architectural History student debt is $15,005. See the full Cornell University profile
A rank of #4 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete their Architectural History program here. More on University Of Virginia Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes University Of Southern California one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees run about $71,647. Graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Read more about University Of Southern California
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,517. Columbia University In The City Of New York Architectural History students take on a median of $23,258 in debt. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Architectural History schools. This public school is set in Austin, TX. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas At Austin Architectural History students take on a median of $21,275 in debt. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
Boston Architectural College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Set in Boston, MA, Boston Architectural College is a private not-for-profit institution. Boston Architectural College graduates 32% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $27,470 in tuition and fees. The median Architectural History program debt is $53,192. Read the full report on Boston Architectural College
University Of Houston ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Architectural History schools. Set in Houston, TX, University Of Houston is a public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Typical Architectural History student debt is $21,255. Get the full University Of Houston report
Ball State University did well this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in Muncie, IN. About 62% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete their Architectural History program here. More on Ball State University
Syracuse University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school based in Syracuse, NY. Syracuse University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. More on Syracuse University
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in Chicago, IL, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete their Architectural History program here. See the full University Of Illinois At Chicago profile
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Savannah College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit school based in Savannah, GA. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,630. Students borrow a median of $26,346 to complete their Architectural History program here. Read the full report on Savannah College Of Art And Design
Roger Williams University did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bristol, RI. Roger Williams University graduates 69% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,197. Students borrow a median of $25,676 to complete their Architectural History program here. See the full Roger Williams University profile
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Based in Albuquerque, NM, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Typical Architectural History student debt is $19,738. See the full University Of New Mexico Main Campus profile
Drexel University landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Drexel University
Depaul University placed #17 among Architectural History schools in the United States. Read more about Depaul University
Clemson University placed #18 among Architectural History schools in the United States. More on Clemson University
Amherst College
Amherst College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Architectural History schools. Get the full Amherst College report
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Central New Mexico Community College report
Endicott College
Endicott College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Endicott College
Smith College
Smith College placed #22 among Architectural History schools in the United States. Get the full Smith College report
University Of Miami placed #23 among Architectural History schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Miami
Vanderbilt University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about Vanderbilt University
Washington University In St Louis did well this year, earning the #25 position. More on Washington University In St Louis
Rest of the Top 15% Best Architectural History Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Belmont University came in at #26 in this year's ranking. See the full Belmont University profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #28 among Architectural History schools in the United States. See the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus profile
Boston University placed #29 among Architectural History schools in the United States. Get the full Boston University report
University Of San Diego did well this year, earning the #30 position. Read the full report on University Of San Diego
Cornish College Of The Arts did well this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full Cornish College Of The Arts report
Barnard College
Barnard College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Architectural History schools. Get the full Barnard College report
Northeastern University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Architectural History schools. More on Northeastern University
Best Architectural History Schools by Degree Level
Compare rankings by degree level:
- Best Architectural History Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Architectural History Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Architectural History Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Architectural History Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Architectural History Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Architectural History Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Architectural History Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 33 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).