Architecture: graduate earnings, debt, and careers
Architecture programs (CIP 04.02). Licensure as an architect requires an accredited degree, experience, and the licensing exam set by each state board.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 3 | 22 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Associate's degree | 21 | 102 | $27,281 | $40,546 | Data unavailable |
| Bachelor's degree | 132 | 3,648 | $55,143 | $66,914 | $25,000 57 programs |
| Master's degree | 96 | 666 | $63,014 | $74,139 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 25 | 77 | $73,937 | $80,586 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 2 | 0 | Data unavailable | $74,323 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 18 | 79 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame IN · Private, nonprofit · 26 graduates measured | $70,513 | $82,983 | $24,500 |
| Drexel University PA · Private, nonprofit · 42 graduates measured | $68,070 | $72,915 | $30,000 |
| The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public · 67 graduates measured | $66,434 | $76,808 | $27,250 |
| Boston Architectural College MA · Private, nonprofit · 24 graduates measured | $66,206 | $82,268 | $34,162 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public · 22 graduates measured | $64,171 | $76,695 | $27,471 |
| California Baptist University CA · Private, nonprofit · 26 graduates measured | $63,907 | Data unavailable | $26,500 |
| Auburn University AL · Public · 45 graduates measured | $63,048 | $72,420 | $29,500 |
| Kennesaw State University GA · Public · 68 graduates measured | $62,825 | $70,752 | $31,000 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public · 53 graduates measured | $62,516 | $76,181 | $29,000 |
| Florida Atlantic University FL · Public · 31 graduates measured | $62,092 | $64,730 | Data unavailable |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN · Public · 63 graduates measured | $61,580 | $68,765 | $27,000 |
| Dunwoody College of Technology MN · Private, nonprofit · 29 graduates measured | $61,347 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA · Public · 131 graduates measured | $61,344 | $76,969 | $21,670 |
| University of Arkansas AR · Public · 56 graduates measured | $60,915 | $67,955 | $30,820 |
| Ball State University IN · Public · 78 graduates measured | $60,869 | Data unavailable | $29,290 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Architectural College MA · Private, nonprofit · 78 graduates measured | $74,576 | $83,817 | Data unavailable |
| The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public · 35 graduates measured | $70,127 | $79,350 | Data unavailable |
| University of Florida FL · Public · 84 graduates measured | $68,269 | $88,820 | Data unavailable |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale IL · Public · 54 graduates measured | $68,053 | $78,062 | Data unavailable |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public · 33 graduates measured | $66,182 | $82,952 | Data unavailable |
| Prairie View A & M University TX · Public · 30 graduates measured | $65,703 | $65,641 | Data unavailable |
| Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public · 29 graduates measured | $65,178 | $78,997 | Data unavailable |
| Hampton University VA · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $64,891 | $64,180 | Data unavailable |
| University of Kentucky KY · Public · 27 graduates measured | $64,503 | $69,700 | Data unavailable |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN · Public · 26 graduates measured | $63,747 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Illinois Chicago IL · Public · 18 graduates measured | $63,583 | $67,711 | Data unavailable |
| Roger Williams University RI · Private, nonprofit · 16 graduates measured | $62,409 | $75,242 | Data unavailable |
| Ball State University IN · Public · 24 graduates measured | $61,097 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Kent State University at Kent OH · Public · 65 graduates measured | $61,017 | $71,894 | Data unavailable |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus ND · Public · 83 graduates measured | $60,577 | $66,004 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Architecture
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and engineering managers | $171,270 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Architects, except landscape and naval | $99,280 | +4.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Architecture teachers, postsecondary | $96,870 | +2.6% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (4)
- 04.0200 Pre-Architecture Studies
- 04.0201 Architecture
- 04.0202 Architectural Design
- 04.0299 Architecture, Other
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