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Architect Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an architect. Architects usually study architecture, computer science, or business. 67% of architects hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 18,287 real architect resumes to see exactly what architect education sections show.
The most common colleges for architects are the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
There are also many online architect courses to help get the education required to be an architect.
There are certain architect certifications that you should consider. These architect certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED).
What education do you need to become an architect?
What degree do you need to be an architect?
- Bachelor's, 67%
- Master's, 21%
- Associate, 6%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become an architect?
- Architecture, 38%
- Computer Science, 16%
- Business, 7%
- Other Majors, 32%
Most common colleges for architects
Architect Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 7.93% |
| University of Phoenix | 7.31% |
| New York Institute of Technology | 6.78% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 5.74% |
| New York University | 5.22% |
Best majors for architects
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Architecture | 38.2% |
| 2 | Computer Science | 15.6% |
| 3 | Business | 6.9% |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering | 6.5% |
| 5 | Computer Engineering | 3.8% |
Best colleges for architects
The best colleges for architects are Harvard University, Yale University, and Cornell University.
An architect with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for architects. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become architects.
1. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
2. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
5. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
20 best online courses for architects
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Top 10 most affordable universities for architects
The most affordable schools for architects are Florida Atlantic University, university of washington, and university of puerto rico - rio piedras campus.
If the best universities for architects are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for architects.
1. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,831
Cost of Attendance
19,559
2. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,207
Cost of Attendance
25,275
3. University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus
San Juan, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,094
Cost of Attendance
11,299
4. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,410
Cost of Attendance
20,456
5. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,610
Cost of Attendance
25,228
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for architects
The hardest universities for architects to get into are Harvard University, Yale University, and Cornell University.
Some great schools for architects are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for architects based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
5%
SAT Average
1,520
2. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions Rate
6%
SAT Average
1,517
3. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
11%
SAT Average
1,471
4. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,507
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for architects
The easiest schools for architects to get into are Portland State University, north dakota state university, and university of colorado denver.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an architect without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for architects.
1. Portland State University
Portland, OR • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
1,111
2. North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND • Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
1,170
3. University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO • Private
Admissions Rate
64%
SAT Average
1,132
4. Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI • Private
Admissions Rate
78%
SAT Average
1,174
5. Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Ames, IA • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,219
Average architect salary by education level
| Architect education level | Architect salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $88,584 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $87,240 |
| Doctorate Degree | $86,905 |
Architect Education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025