Top 20 Architecture Schools in the US

The top architecture schools in the US are discussed in this article. Studying architecture in the US will equip you for a job that will encourage your creative, design, and construction skills and develop you as an inventive problem solver.

As an international student, studying architecture in one of the best schools in the US might just be the one thing you need to plan or control your profession towards success.

In this article, you will learn about studying architecture in the United States, from finding the best schools to study architecture in the US to live the American dream of a creative architect.

Which universities provide the greatest programs in architecture, you ask? Let’s now look at the top 20 architecture schools in the US for both domestic and international students.

Table of Contents

Degree options available in architecture

The standard undergraduate degree offered by US architecture institutions is the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), and the graduate degree is the Master of Architecture (M.Arch). There are various programs that are similar, such as dual degree programs, architectural engineering, and architectural design.

How long does it take to complete an architecture degree?

An architectural degree program’s length might change. An M.Arch. program typically lasts two to three years, whereas a B.Arch. degree typically lasts five years. The length can vary, though, depending on the school because some offer expedited or extended programs.

Top Best Architecture Schools in the US

These schools of architecture are renowned for their extensive curriculums, illustrious faculty, cutting-edge settings, and strong focus on design excellence. These universities offer a perfect setting to develop your technical and creative abilities, whether your goal is to work as a renowned architect or conduct ground-breaking research.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Harvard University
University of California, Berkeley
Columbia University
The University of California, Los Angeles
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Cornell University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Stanford University
Yale University
Princeton University
New York University
Rice University
Southern California Institute of Architecture
University of Notre Dame
Washington University in St.Louis
Northeastern University
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Vi9rginia Tech

#1. Massachusetts Insitute of Technology

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in America is for both graduates and undergraduates. This university allows students to learn and understand the basic foundation and vocabulary for architectural design.

One of the best universities for architectural design in the USA is MIT, which places a strong emphasis on educating students to become well-rounded future scientists, engineers, and scholars who can serve their country and the global community in the twenty-first century.

Their Architectural Design program provides a wealth of chances for students to interact with teachers outside of the studio. Workshops, lectures, seminars, and research projects are just a few of the various ways that architectural design engages with the built world, the forces that affect it, and the design process itself.

The academics at MIT work on a wide range of initiatives and fields of study, including extensive physical planning, behavioral research, environmental programming, etc.

From the core studios to the advanced option studios and design workshops in cities all around the world, architecture at MIT is strongly committed to the urban settings and difficulties of design.

In addition, the Department offers a post-professional master’s degree in Architecture+Urbanism.

#2. The Havard University

The Harvard University Department of Architecture is a unique community, rich in variety, collaboration, and scholarship through design.

The Department’s vision of design excellence incorporates both the capacity to draw inspiration from a large body of knowledge and the innovative and deft manipulation of form. The design studio, theory, visual studies, history, technology, and professional practice are all included in the architectural curriculum, with design serving as the primary emphasis of education.

The core Graduate School of Design (GSD) experience is drawing together students and faculty from across the departments of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design.

The creative, collaborative atmosphere of the trays is supplemented by Gund Hall’s advanced information infrastructure, media-enriched presentation spaces, vast library resources, and open access to fabrication technologies, enabling architecture students to develop, discuss, exchange, and materialize ideas through a broad range of platforms and media.

The student experience is further enriched by the School’s renowned lecture and public program series, exhibitions, and publications, as well as the resources available across Harvard University. It is among the best Architecture Schools in the US

#3. University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley is one of the best Architecture Schools in the US. Berkeley’s undergraduate program in Architecture leads to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.

The programs contain combined courses like environmental design and offer a wide range of introductions to the study of architecture.

Undergraduate studies in architecture at the University of California, Berkeley provides pre-professional skills for entry-level employment in architecture, the option for graduate work in architecture. All undergraduates follow the same path through their junior year.

In the first two years, students take a breadth of lower division courses and Introduction to environmental design courses, architectural technologies, building performance; and architectural history, society, and culture.

Graduates of the University of California, Berkeley go on to obtain professional degrees in architecture or in other related fields; many others work in architectural practice, construction, government, or industry.

#4. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is the 4th school on our list of the best architecture schools in the US.

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies at UCLA introduces the fundamental ordering systems of architecture which include form, space, tectonics, and program, and their relationships to political, social, and cultural constructs.

Two goals are essential to the profession of teaching at UCLA: the first one is to give students an understanding of architecture, urban planning, etc. For those who are interested, the second is getting ready for graduate professional study.

Their undergraduate major features coursework in three areas: critical studies, technology, and design.

#5. Columbia University

Columbia University is regarded as an important and prestigious architecture school in the US. It is also home to the master of science program in Advanced architectural design, urban design, and others. The BA in Architecture at Columbia University is a 4-year program.

This program is offered on a full-time basis. The Architecture major establishes a cognitive context for students to interpret the relation of form, space, program, materials, and media to human life and thought.

#6. Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) offers a rigorous and remarkable architectural education profile for their students around technology in all areas such as design, history, theory, and communication.

They offer incubator workshops to all the students, from Freshmen through Seniors, which allows them to follow their intellectual passions and hone in-demand skills. Architecture is a discipline that sits between art, culture, and technology.

Architecture students at Georgia Institute of Technology think about the buildings of the future, like how to reconstruct old buildings in new ways and the new types of buildings people will need all over the world.

They use emerging technologies to design and develop those buildings fast. The Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program at Georgia Tech provides students with a professional degree leading to a career in architecture.

#7. Cornell University

Cornell University’s architectural education is a balance between philosophy and pragmatism, between stimulated and physical creative fields, and between precise tradition and transcendent vision. It is among the best architecture schools in the US.

Students enrolled in a BS Degree in Architecture at Cornell University experience quality education and broad hands-on practical learning. Students learn to communicate ideas through models and drawings among others.

Cornell University helps students, both undergraduate and graduate, to be able to come up with modern designs through critical thinking and experiences from practicals and theories in architecture. It also provides a high percentage of job opportunities for the architectural students of Cornell University.

#8. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania Architecture program is a comprehensive and rigorous program preparing graduates and undergraduates for future challenges.

It offers degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, city and regional planning, historic preservation, and fine arts, as well as several dual degrees with other graduate schools at the University of Pennsylvania.

The University prepares students to address complex sociocultural and environmental issues through thoughtful inquiry, creative expression, and innovation.

The mission of the undergraduate program in Architecture is to develop basic skills, knowledge, and methods of inquiry in the discipline of architecture within the context of a liberal education in the arts and sciences.

An intensive sequence in Design Studios constitutes the focus of the program. Thorough training is also provided in history, theory, technology, ecology, society, and professional practice.

#9. University of Michigan Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, also known as the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning is a school with the perfect example of modernist architecture.

Taubman College is committed to the idea that architectural education can build upon a plurality of foundations, diverse ideas, experiences, histories, methodologies, and technical conceptual capacities.

Taubman College prepares students for their future by cultivating a dynamic educational environment where assumptions are challenged, ideas are debated, and emergent design methods are forged.

The graduate program is open to students who have already earned undergraduate degrees in architecture (2 years), as well as those who received undergraduate degrees from other disciplines (3 years).

#10. Stanford University

The mission of the undergraduate program at Stanford University concerning Architectural design is to develop students’ ability to be able to fuse or combine engineering and architecture in ways that blend innovative architectural design with cutting-edge engineering technologies.

The courses in the program combine hands-on Architectural design studios with a wide variety of other courses. Students are allowed to choose from the choices of courses concerning structures, energy conservation, sustainability, building systems, and fine arts.

There are also math and science requirements that prepare students well for graduate work in other fields such as civil and environmental engineering, law, and business.

#11. Yale University

The Yale School of Architecture is one of the constituent professional schools of Yale University and is generally considered to be one of the best architecture schools in the United States.

The core curriculum at Yale School of Architecture has always placed an emphasis on design as a basic subject. The undergraduate architecture major was developed to encourage the study of architecture by individuals who have a wide range of interests and who are not necessarily set on pursuing professional education in the area.

Yale University offers a BA in Architecture with a duration of 4 years. The architecture course is offered on a full-time basis. This program is provided on-campus and off-campus.

The purpose of this undergraduate standard major is to include the study of architecture within a comprehensive liberal arts education, drawing from the broader academic and professional environment of the Yale School of Architecture.

#12. Princeton University

Princeton University’s School of Architecture promotes a synthetic approach to architecture, drawing upon design innovation, in-depth studies in the history and theory of architecture, as well as the emerging cultures of computation and building technology

Princeton University also teaches the history of architecture, architectural design, theories, etc. The school of Architecture has advanced degrees for both masters and doctoral levels. The master’s at Princeton University is offered as a two years program.

At Princeton University, students can take courses in architectural, landscape, and urban design. Because of the more advanced, urban, and new-generation technology we use or are exposed to in this increasingly interconnected world, students are also being instructed to be more receptive to ideas and changes.

#13. New York University

The undergraduate Architecture program at New York University is for students who want to learn to design individual and complex groups of buildings. Students offer courses relating to architectural history and theory and learn about modern and contemporary architecture.

New York University (NYU) goes under a rigorous program in teaching students to be able to design and advance their ideas of skyscrapers and much other advanced technology,urban designs, landscape, etc.

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program at the New York School of Architecture helps you develop a critical understanding of historic and contemporary practices, cultures, and movements in the industry, preparing you to become a visionary leader and problem solver.

#14. Rice University

The first four years of study lead to a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, the second four years lead to a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. The second is the Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) program at Rice Architecture.

Rice Architecture B.A. is a liberal arts degree: the curriculum exposes students to the full extent of architecture. The core courses are history and theory of architecture, technology, and design which are mostly done in the design studio.

Rice Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) professional degree is fully accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB), qualifying our graduates to sit for the professional licensing exam.

Rice Architecture emphasizes that architecture is a global practice that is significant. Master’s core curriculum of courses includes history, theory of architecture, technology, and design which helps make the students find solutions to problems.

#15. Southern California Institute of Architecture

The Southern California Institute of Architecture has a five-year program that results in a bachelor’s degree in architecture; the master’s degree takes one and a half to three and a half years to complete. The academic year is divided into three months for each semester.

The courses that require more attention are architectural history, theory, technology, and practice. Southern California Institute of Architecture is an independent school, that is ready to educate architects who will imagine and shape the future.

#16. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame School of Architecture deals with programs in architecture and urban design, they promote environments that are durable, beautiful, and are also supportive of strong communities.

Notre Dame School of Architecture has a five-year program to prepare students to become licensed and full-fledged architects and engaged citizens committed to the greater good of built and natural environments.

Along with classes studied for the University’s core curriculum, the first year is where students are primarily taught the fundamentals of hand drawing and drafting. As the years pass, students continue to go through demanding programs in order to become architects.

The University of Notre Dame School of Architecture is unique in its emphasis on traditional urbanism, classical architecture, and dedication to principles that encourage community, harmony with nature, and an economy of resources and energy.

#17. Washington University in St Louis

Washington University in St. Louis’ graduate and undergraduate architecture programs supports the development of the designer’s leadership qualities in order to promote independent and civic-minded individuals.

Most states require that an individual intending to become an architect hold an accredited professional degree. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited two types of degrees for Washington University in St. Louis.

The Bachelor of Architecture requires a minimum of five years of study and the Master of Architecture requires a minimum of three years of study following an unrelated bachelor’s degree or two years of study following a related pre-professional bachelor’s degree.

Washington University in St Louis emphasizes the physicality of design, site, purpose, material, technique, sustainability, and meaning.

#18. Northeastern University

Northeastern University offers a bachelor of science degree in architecture. The School of Architecture offers a NAAB accredited one-year program to students who have efficiently completed the BS degree in architecture.

Northeastern University’s academic year has about two full semesters and two half semesters of about seven weeks each. The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies teaches students the rigorous design methods of architecture while also offering a core curriculum focused on contemporary topics related to the built environment; design, history and theory, and technology courses.

The Northeastern University of Architecture offers students many choices for engaging the many changes we undergo in our culture, commerce, and built environment in the coming years.

#19. University of Nevada, Las Vegas

School of Architecture at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas provides ongoing educational opportunities to those students seeking advanced degrees.

The School of Architecture seeks to inspire and educate future leaders in the design professions; leaders with design creativity, social responsibility, historical perspective, technical competence, and global awareness.

The School of Architecture is part of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It was accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and currently provides the only program accredited for architecture in the state of Nevada.

The school offers a Bachelor of Science in architecture, interior architecture, and landscape architecture. It also offers a master of architecture as a professional degree and a master of healthcare interior design.

#20. Virginia Tech

The design programs at Virginia Tech struggle to create an environment where students’ abilities and capacities can be triggered while challenging students with the excellence of an achievement that is natural in their selected discipline.

The Bachelor of Architecture takes five years to complete. The first-year students work through a Foundation Program. In the second and third years, students work through the Core Professional Program. Fourth and fifth-year students complete the Advanced Professional Program.

Our undergraduates are challenged to imagine a future where people and communities can thrive and are equipped with the skills and tools to collaboratively build the spaces and places that bring their bold and aspirational visions to life.

The Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, and Landscape Architecture majors offer their own weekly tours during the fall and spring semesters.

What are the prerequisites for studying architecture in the US?

Having a solid background in math, science, and the arts is advantageous. As part of the application process, some programs could additionally demand the submission of a portfolio.

What is the curriculum like for architecture programs?

Architecture programs typically include a combination of design studios, architectural history and theory courses, building technology and construction classes, digital modeling and representation, and professional practice studies. The curriculum often focuses on developing both creative and technical skills.

Conclusion

Students or undergraduates are advised to check out each of the following listed schools and make a decision to help themselves, their environments, and society rebuild and shape the future in accordance with the ranking of the 20 best architecture schools in the United States of America that has been provided above.