20 Best Architecture Schools in US

20 Best Architecture Schools in US. Architects have some of the most rewarding careers on the planet. They create the buildings, landscapes, ships, and structures that we rely on. They are at the forefront of trends like sustainability and environmental design, and they play an important role in city planning and community living. Whether it’s a private skyscraper or a public square, architects’ work has the power to change the world.

Do you enjoy studying architecture and aspire to work as a designer? If this is the case, you’re undoubtedly thinking where you can receive the best architectural education. It can be tough to determine which architecture schools are the finest, but we’ve done the legwork and prepared a list of the 11 best undergraduate architecture schools in the United States.

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What Is an Architecture School?

An architecture school is one that provides a degree in Architecture, which is the bare minimum for becoming an architect; however, there are multiple other architecture degrees. To work as an architect, you must have a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) or a Master of Architecture (MArch).

A Bachelor of Architecture degree is required to work as an architect. These programs are typically five years long (rather than the four years required for most other undergraduate degrees), and by the end, you’ll have the curriculum and experience required to pass the Architecture Registration Exam and begin working as an architect. Architectural theory, construction methods, drafting, and structural design are among the topics covered by architecture majors.

Some architecture colleges also offer Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees. These four-year programs teach you the fundamentals of architecture, but they do not give enough curriculum or work experience for you to begin working as an architect.

Some students pursue these degrees because they desire a stronger liberal arts education, because they want to work in architecture but not as an architect, or because they were unable to enter a Bachelor of Architecture program but want to be well equipped for a Master of Architecture degree.

If you don’t have a Bachelor of Architecture, you can still become an architect by earning a Master of Architecture. Master of Architecture programs normally last one to three years, depending on your architectural background.

• University Of California – Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley, was founded in 1868 and is a public research institute that is highly regarded among colleges in the United States. It is also the University of Calgary’s oldest institution, with around 44,000 students. The school’s culture demonstrates the importance of collaboration, creativity, and research in achieving stated goals. It is home to the United States’ fourth-largest academic library.

Its ideology is based on the idea that there should be a framework in place to achieve whatever your heart desires. With a variety of alternatives available, the school is focused on developing its students into leaders in their respective industries by serving as a leading party that influences achievement. Its natural position as a trustworthy educational platform is ingrained in its determination to provide high-quality education. Some of the courses that distinguish and attract the institution include Social and Cultural Processes in Architecture and Urbanism, Design Theories, Methods, and Practice, and Structures and Construction. They underline its prestige as well as its affordability.

•  Cornell University:

Cornell University clearly tops our list of the best architecture schools in the United States. Because Cornell’s architecture department is one of the country’s oldest, students get access to a large network of alumni and research.

Academically, architecture students at Cornell follow the same core architecture curriculum for the first three years, which provides them with the necessary comprehensive material while also allowing them to choose elective courses from around the university.

Students in Cornell’s architecture program can work and/or study at the program’s New York City and Rome locations, in addition to the school’s main campus in Ithaca, New York. Students graduating from the architecture department are in high demand due to the program’s reputation as a top institution, especially for positions in New York City, where the school has substantial affiliations.

• Texas A & M University-College Station

  The Bachelor of Environmental Design program at Texas A&M-College Station has two tracks: a pre-professional design study track and a research study track that culminates in a written thesis. The design track prepares students to pursue the National Architectural Accrediting Board-accredited Master of Architecture degree at the school. All undergraduates must participate in a semester away program, either studying abroad or undertaking a field internship. Graduate certifications allow students to specialize further in their field. Scholarships available include the August A. Neuner Scholarship, the Arthur W. Licht Memorial Scholarship, and a number of scholarships sponsored by American Institute of Architects chapters (awards vary).

•  Rice University — Houston, TX

Rice University is well-known for its excellent architecture programs, and with a student-to-faculty ratio of 5:1, you can expect personalized attention during your studies.

Rice undergraduates study architecture for six years. The first four years are dedicated to earning a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture. This is a liberal arts degree that allows you to attend classes in a range of disciplines over your first four years. This is ideal if you want to combine your architecture studies with another field, and Rice supports this through extensive interdisciplinary research. Many other schools and departments at Rice, including business, engineering, and environmental science, collaborate closely with the architectural school.

After four years, you’ll spend another two years focusing solely on architecture, at the end of which you’ll obtain a second degree, a Bachelor of Architecture, allowing you to work as an architect. Students in this program spend one year as paid employees in architecture companies throughout the world, which is an excellent opportunity to gain experience and develop career connections.

•  University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame offers a Bachelor of Architecture program (BArch). This demanding five-year program leads to a first professional degree.

The first two years of the program are focused on history and basics. The curriculum is unique in that it requires students to spend their third year in Rome. The goal of the Rome year is to comprehend that architecture is both a millennium-long legacy and a living metropolis. The fourth year is devoted to regional and traditional American styles. The fifth year culminates with a studio thesis.

Students might specialize in architecture practice and enterprise, furniture design, or preservation and restoration. Each is concerned with function and design. The curriculum includes a significant amount of studio training and critique. In addition, the training emphasizes manual sketching and drawing. Graphics and Drawing, Building Technology, and Advanced Modeling Technique are among the courses available.
Notre Dame is a Catholic university in Notre Dame, Indiana, in South Bend, that was founded in 1842.

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, also known as Virginia Tech, is a public university in Virginia. The school, which was established in 1872, comprises six regional educational facilities. In addition, Virginia Tech is one of six senior military universities in the United States. Its dedication to research, learning, and outreach has earned it a place among the best universities in the United States.

This institution has a community principle that is founded on numerous affirmations. Recognizing that some principles do not accept inclusivity, the institution has been more receptive to supporting inclusion that fosters progress. They are devoted to treating everyone with dignity, respect, and the freedom to express themselves. A rejection of prejudice based on, among other things, race, age, skin color, gender, handicap, religion, and sexual orientation.

Although its name is a mouthful, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has a lot to offer students looking for a high-quality education. This broad program allows students to explore numerous parts of architecture through the architecture degree offered by the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. Students are exposed to courses such as The Art of Building, The History of Architecture, and Basic Principles of Structures.

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• Syracuse University

Syracuse University was the first in the country to offer a Bachelor of Architectural degree, and it has remained a top architecture school ever since. Because of its renown, Syracuse’s School of Architecture is able to draw many well-known architects to offer lectures at the school, and it is well-known for its great faculty.

Despite its location in upstate New York, the School of Architecture maintains a number of working and teaching facilities in New York Metropolis where students can learn about the architecture of America’s largest metropolis. There is also a significant study abroad program, with most students spending at least a semester at Syracuse’s Florence or London campuses.

• Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

The Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as Georgia Tech, is a popular alternative for students interested in studying Architecture in the United States. This public research school in Atlanta, founded in 1885, describes itself as a renowned research institution. It ensures that pupils grow in a forward-thinking manner, guided by science and technology. The university is divided into six colleges and thirty-one departments.

Georgia Tech is noted for five core values: honesty, community, respect, accountability, and flexibility. The institution takes pride in doing the right thing and behaving oneself professionally. They value diversity and treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Georgia Tech offers a wide range of courses, but one of the most notable is its architecture degree. The school provides a wide range of high-quality learning outcomes, from workshops to classroom skills. The history of architecture, environmental systems, architecture Design Studio, construction technology, architecture modeling, and media are among the courses available.

• Carnegie Mellon University 

Carnegie Mellon University offers two architecture bachelor’s degrees. The Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degree program lasts five years. The Bachelor of Arts in Architecture is a four-year degree that does not lead to professional certification as an architect. By the end of their second year, students in the program have chosen one of two degrees.

Both programs include architectural history and foundation coursework, as well as studios taught in small groups in a studio atmosphere with close faculty collaboration. The BA requires four studios, whereas the BArch requires ten. Advanced studios cover a variety of issues, including materials, sustainability, and recycling. For the first two years of both degrees, the content is the same.

The BArch curriculum places a strong emphasis on technical knowledge and skills such as drawing. Design, structural concepts, and how to go from concept to construction will be taught to students. Materials and Assembly, Practice and Ethics, and Case Studies in Architecture and Cities are among the courses offered. The BA degree focuses on general knowledge rather than technical skill. BA students will be well-versed in architecture but will not be preparing for licensing.
Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh. It is one of the most prestigious technology universities in the country.

• Cal Poly

The Architectural Department at Cal Poly provides a number of architecture degrees, allowing you to concentrate in an area of interest to you. Its architectural department is one of the largest in the country, and approximately one out of every twenty architects in the United States (and one out of every five in California) graduated from Cal Poly, so there are plenty of alumni connections to be made.

This is especially useful because Cal Poly offers a cooperative learning option for sophomore, junior, and senior students, which allows them to receive course credit while working in an architecture-related business for pay. Furthermore, Cal Poly students can spend a year studying abroad in Europe, Asia, or other parts of the United States.

• Rhode Island School of Design

RISD is widely regarded as one of the world’s best design schools, and its architecture program is equally regarded. The architectural program at the institution is likewise unique.

Because RISD is a world-renowned fine arts and design institution, the architecture department includes a visual and humanities-based education in its professional curriculum. This allows students to approach complex architectural difficulties from a fresh perspective, and RISD graduates are well-known for their creative problem-solving methods.

• Pratt Institute

The Pratt Institute School of Architecture differentiates itself via its commitment to pushing technical boundaries. Pratt also offers a variety of intensive study courses.

Its most distinguishing aspect is its concentration on Morphology, which integrates the study of form through a combination of mathematics, computer, production, building, and future technologies (how cool is that?). The Pratt Institute takes pleasure in combining ingenuity with an ethical approach to construction in order to produce a new generation of culturally informed, socially conscious architects.

• University of Illinois at Chicago

The University of Illinois-Chicago School of Architecture draws inspiration from the city’s diverse architecture, assisting students in understanding the city’s history and envisioning a new future. The Bachelor of Architecture degree lays the groundwork for technical confidence and artistic development. Students also receive hands-on training from a network of professional offices. The Master of Architecture degree leads to professional licensure and is approved by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, whereas the Master of Science degree expands on those professional abilities in a studio-centered course. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (up to $10,000), the American Concrete Institute ($3,000), and the American Council of Engineering Committees ProNet Scholarship ($5,000) are among the scholarships available.

• Lawrence Technological University

Lawrence Technological University offers a Bachelor of Science in Architecture through its College of Architecture and Design (CoAD). The degree is intended for students who want to be professional architects and is structured in conjunction with a Master of Architecture (MArch) program, which requires a total of 168 credits. Students who complete the BA program are immediately admitted to the master’s program. Typically, the combined program lasts five years.

The dual program emphasizes information and abilities that lead to certification, but it does so in an interdisciplinary manner. Design, ethics and social responsibility, sustainability, and communication skills are all prioritized. Students will study about architectural history, understand structures and their supporting systems, establish cooperation and design abilities, and be ready for practice. History of the Designed Environment, 20th Century Architecture, Art and Design Awareness, and HVAC and Water Systems are among the courses available. Not all graduates go into architecture; some work in design or educate.
Lawrence is in the Detroit metropolitan area, in Southfield, Michigan.

• Washington University IN St Louis

Washington University in St. Louis describes itself as a place where people are valued and serious work is accomplished. This suggests that it is steadfast in disseminating knowledge to improve the world’s living conditions. This private research organization, founded in 1853 and headquartered in Missouri, was named after George Washington, an American political leader and the first president of the United States.

Its core principles are leadership, being driven, community-oriented, and personal. There is an example of inclusivity toward individual and collective prosperity. It is committed to delivering on the freedom of inquiry through research, teaching, and learning. Its mission is to achieve success by achieving goals through its community.

The Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts offers a unique combination of courses. Building Systems, Architectural Design, and Environmental Systems are a few examples. The curriculum is taught by well-known academia who are highly experienced in research, and specifics on how to enroll can be found on their website. Its strategy is proactive, and it is designed for individuals who want to enhance people’s living conditions.