2023 Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools
Finding the Best Architecture & Related Services School for You
In 2020-2021, 17,325 people earned a degree or certificate in architecture and related services, making the major the #29 most popular in the United States.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
The Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 112 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Architecture & Related Services Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Best Architecture & Related Services Colleges.
Top 15% Best Architecture & Related Services Schools
Our analysis found University of Notre Dame to be the best school for architecture and related services students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
On average, architecture and related services graduates from Notre Dame take out $24,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
Request Information
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a great place for architecture and related services students. MIT is a large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Cambridge.
Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools list. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Yale University
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools list. Georgia Tech is a very large public school located in the large city of Atlanta.
While working on their degree, architecture and related services majors at Georgia Tech accumulate an average of around $30,750 in student debt.
Full Architecture & Related Services at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Report
Request Information
Out of the 112 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the # 5 spot on the list. Virginia Tech is a very large public school located in the small city of Blacksburg.
Architecture & Related Services majors at Virginia Tech take out an average of $31,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $799.
Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Virginia Tech
Request Information
Harvard University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for architecture and related services students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Request Information
University of California - Berkeley came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools ranking. Located in the midsize city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that architecture and related services majors at UC Berkeley take out is $15,000.
Full Architecture & Related Services at University of California - Berkeley Report
Request Information
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for architecture and related services students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public school with a very large student population.
Architecture & Related Services majors at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo take out an average of $20,187 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $454.
Request Information
Newschool of Architecture and Design landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best architecture and related services programs. Newschool of Architecture and Design is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego.
On average, architecture and related services graduates from Newschool of Architecture and Design take out $39,668 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Architecture & Related Services at Newschool of Architecture and Design Report
Request Information
New York University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools ranking. Located in the large city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Full Architecture & Related Services at New York University Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #11, Rice University did quite well on this year’s best schools for architecture and related services students. Located in the city of Houston, Rice is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Rice University
Request Information
North Carolina State University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best architecture and related services programs. Located in the large city of Raleigh, NC State is a public college with a very large student population.
On average, architecture and related services graduates from NC State take out $22,875 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Architecture & Related Services at North Carolina State University Report
Request Information
Drexel University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools list. Drexel is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.
On average, architecture and related services graduates from Drexel take out $31,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Request Information
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #14 on this year’s Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools list. RPI is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy.
The average amount in student loans that architecture and related services majors at RPI take out is $31,000.
Request Information
The University of Texas at Austin came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools ranking. Located in the city of Austin, UT Austin is a public school with a very large student population.
Architecture & Related Services majors at UT Austin take out an average of $21,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $266.
Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at The University of Texas at Austin
Request Information
University of Southern California ranked #16 on this year’s Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools list. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.
On average, architecture and related services graduates from USC take out $21,750 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $551.
Request InformationAdditional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Architecture/Urban Planning students that almost earned our Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | University of Virginia - Main Campus | Charlottesville, VA |
| 18 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL |
| 19 | University of Maryland - College Park | College Park, MD |
| 20 | Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY |
| 21 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA |
| 22 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL |
Architecture & Related Services by Region
View the Best Architecture/Urban Planning Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Architecture & Related Services Rankings
Architecture & Related Services Related Rankings by Major
Architecture & Related Services Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Architectural Sciences & Technology | 6,781 |
| General Architecture | 4,982 |
| Urban & Regional Planning | 2,419 |
| Landscape Architecture | 905 |
| Environmental Design | 741 |
| Interior Architecture | 728 |
| Real Estate Development | 420 |
| Architecture (Other) | 202 |
| Architectural History | 147 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer & Information Sciences | 254,454 |
| Engineering | 198,468 |
| Biological & Biomedical Sciences | 177,778 |
| Engineering Technologies | 85,188 |
| Mathematics & Statistics | 52,396 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Lorenzo Cafaro.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.