Top 30 American Universities for Architecture
See below for detailed description of each university
| Ranking | University | Region | Annual Tuition(OAS) | GPA | SAT/ACT |
| 1 | Cornell University | NE | $50,953 | 4.01 | SAT: 1480 |
| 2 | Southern California Institute of Architecture | W | $43,334 | 3.2 | SAT: 1220 |
| 3 | Rice University | SE | $40,566 | 4.08 | SAT: 1460 |
| 4 | Syracuse University | NE | $41,794 | 3.6 | SAT: 1240 |
| 5 | California Polytechnic State University | W | $14,000 | 3.87 | SAT: 1300 |
| 6 | University of Texas –Austin | SE | $34,676 | 3.71 | SAT: 1330 |
| 7 | Virginia Tech | SE | $29,975 | 3.66 | SAT: 1290 |
| 8 | Rhode Island School of Design | NE | $47,110 | 3.5 | SAT: 1320 |
| 9 | Auburn University | SE | $28,840 | 3.74 | SAT: 1240 |
| 10 | Iowa State University | MW | $20,617 | 3.55 | SAT: 1210 |
| 11 | Pratt Institute | NE | $44,804 | 3.64 | SAT: 1270 |
| 12 | Carnegie Mellon | NE | $51,196 | 3.72 | SAT: 1470 |
| 13 | Boston Architectural College | NE | $20,666 | OA | OA |
| 14 | University of Notre Dame | MW | $47,929 | 4.02 | SAT: 1480 |
| 15 | University of Oregon | NW | $33,442 | 3.6 | SAT: 1200 |
| 16 | The Cooper Union | NE | $42,000 | 3.6 | SAT: 1400 |
| 17 | University of Southern California | W | $49,464 | 3.73 | SAT: 1450 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania State University | NE | $31,346 | 3.57 | SAT: 1260 |
| 19 | University of Arkansas | SE | $20,300 | 3.62 | SAT: 1190 |
| 20 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | NE | $47,908 | 3.81 | SAT: 1420 |
| 21 | University of Miami | SE | $47,004 | 4.2 | SAT: 1380 |
| 22 | North Carolina State University | SE | $26,399 | 4.42 | SAT: 1300 |
| 23 | Louisiana State University | SE | $27,491 | 3.4 | SAT: 1200 |
| 24 | Illinois Institute of Technology | MW | $45,214 | 3.64 | ACT: 28 |
| 25 | Drexel University | NE | $47,051 | 3.44 | SAT: 1270 |
| 26 | Temple University | NE | $25,994 | 3.44 | SAT: 1210 |
| 27 | University of Arizona | W | $30,025 | 3.4 | SAT: 1170 |
| 28 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | NE | $30,326 | 3.51 | SAT: 1220 |
| 29 | Howard University | SE | $23,970 | 3.29 | SAT: 1180 |
| 30 | University of North Carolina – Charlotte | SE | $20,193 | 3.57 | SAT: 1160 |
1.) Cornell University
Cornell University is a private Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York. The school offers over 100 different majors and has 14,000 undergraduate students. Today the diverse student body includes students from over 120 countries and all 50 American states.
Cornell has top ranked programs in several fields of study, and both their engineering and business programs are in the top 10 nationally. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 9:1, and 55% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $50,953 | $13,950 | $64,903 |
| Out-of-state | $50,953 | $13,950 | $64,903 |
2.) Southern California Institute of Architecture
Southern California Institute of Architecture, or SCI-Arc, is a non-profit school offering degrees in architecture. The school was founded in 1972, and is considered to be on the top avant-garde schools in the US. The university has about 500 students, and is based in a historic Santa Fe Freight Depot in the Arts District of Los Angeles.
SCI-Arc attracts students from around the world, many of whom have already completed some college level work. The school provides students with 24/7 studio access for working on projects, and frequently hosts seminars and workshops with visiting instructors. The university has a state of the art campus, and a 7:1 student-faculty ratio.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $43,334 | $15,520 | $58,854 |
| Out-of-state | $43,334 | $15,520 | $58,854 |
3.) Rice University
Rice University is a private university located in Houston, Texas. The university was founded in 1912 and has an undergraduate enrollment of 6,000. The school’s location near downtown Houston allows students to enjoy all the amenities of living in America’s 4th largest city, while still being able to reside on the private, scenic campus.
The university values individual attention and maintains a student-faculty ratio of 6:1, one of the lowest ratios in the country. The university is ranked fifth in the country for its undergraduate teaching, and 66% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $40,556 | $13,750 | $54,306 |
| Out-of-state | $40,556 | $13,750 | $54,306 |
4.) Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private university in the city of Syracuse, New York in central New York. The university has a history that goes back to 1831 and has an undergraduate enrollment of 15,000 students. The university has a large campus split into 13 different schools with nationally recognized programs in architecture, business, education, and engineering.
Syracuse offers over 300 clubs, including many skiing and snowboarding clubs that take advantage of Syracuse’s long winters. The university offers many study abroad programs, and has a second campus in Florence, Italy. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 16:1 and 60% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $41,794 | $15,217 | $57,011 |
| Out-of-state | $41,794 | $15,217 | $57,011 |
5.) California State Polytechnic University
California State Polytechnic University, or Cal Poly, is a public university in Pomona, California. The university was founded in 1938 and has an undergraduate enrollment of 22,000 students. The school offers 94 undergraduate majors, and has been recognized for its academic excellence by the US government.
The university is located in an urban area in Los Angeles, California. The university is about 30 miles from the coast, and students can easily travel into Los Angeles for different cultural and entertainment events. The university stresses the importance of internships and work experiences, and much of the learning at Poly Tech takes place out of the classroom. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 25:1
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $6,976 | $15,238 | $22,214 |
| Out-of-state | $14,000 | $15,238 | $29,238 |
6.) University of Texas – Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a public school in Austin, Texas. The university is the largest school in Texas and the 7th largest in the country, with over 50,000 students enrolled. The university has over 900 student clubs and two of the largest student publications in the country. In addition to on campus activities students are also able to enjoy cultural and academic opportunities in the surrounding city of Austin.
Austin is divided into 18 different schools, including its highly ranked business, education, and engineering schools. The student-faculty ratio at Austin is 18:1, and 25% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. Alumni of Austin include 15 former US congressman, two former first ladies, and the founder of Dell computers.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $9,806 | $ 11,456 | $20,770 |
| Out-of-state | $34,676 | $11,456 | $46,132 |
7.) Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is a public research university located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The university offers over 115 degree programs and has 25,000 undergraduate students. The school has several top ranked undergraduate programs, including engineering, business, and agricultural studies. The school also is also ranked in the top 10 for happiest students and for quality of life for students.
The school has a student-faculty ratio of 14:1, and 27% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. The school has over 600 clubs and organizations, and its sport teams compete in Division 1 ACC.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $29,975 | $8,424 | $38,399 |
| Out-of-state | $29,975 | $8,424 | $38,399 |
8.) Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college in Providence, Rhode Island. The school is consistently rated as one of the top arts and design schools in the country, and offers 16 undergraduate majors. The school is connected to Brown University, and has 1,800 undergraduate students.
The university has its own art and design museum on campus, with over 80,000 works of art. Students at RISD can explore dozens of clubs, and take part in the school’s student government. The university provides a lot of one on one attention, and has a low student-faculty ratio of 9:1.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $47,110 | $12,850 | $59,960 |
| Out-of-state | $47,110 | $12,850 | $59,960 |
9.) Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university in Auburn, Alabama. The university has more than 22,000 undergraduate students and is one of the largest schools in the state. Auburn was founded in 1856 and is one of the top universities in the Southeast of the US. The school offers a wide range of programs, including top programs in architecture, pharmacy, and engineering.
The university has an urban campus, and an active campus. The city has been ranked as one of the best cities to live in the US, and the school’s football games are a big attraction n the fall. There are over 300 student clubs at Auburn, and the school has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $10,696 | $12,898 | $23,594 |
| Out-of-state | $28,840 | $12,898 | $41,738 |
10.) Iowa State University
Iowa State University is a public university located in Ames, Iowa. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of 30,000 students and offers over 100 different options for bachelor degrees. The school is nationally ranked for its journalism, hotel management, and choir programs.
There are over 800 student organizations on campus, in addition to popular athletic programs. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1, and 30% of its classes have fewer than 20 students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $7,969 | $8,356 | $16,325 |
| Out-of-state | $20,617 | $8,356 | $28,973 |
11.) Pratt Institute
The Pratt Institute is a private school in Brooklyn, New York. The school was established in 1887, and focuses on engineering, architecture, and the fine arts. The school has 3,000 undergraduate students,
Pratt Institute is a top destination for students interested in the arts. The school emphasizes the importance of practical skills, and works to foster students’ hope to improve the world. The school has graduate many notable artists and architects, and has a student-faculty ratio of 8:1.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $44,804 | $12,026 | $56,830 |
| Out-of-state | $44,804 | $12,026 | $56,830 |
12.) Carnegie Mellon
Carnegie Mellon University is a private university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university was founded by American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1900, and has grown into one of the top universities in the country. Today the university has an undergraduate enrollment of 6,300 and has top ranked programs in computer science, engineering, and drama.
The university has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1 and 65% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. The most popular majors at Carnegie Mellon are engineering, business, and computer science.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $51,196 | $13,270 | $64,466 |
| Out-of-state | $51,196 | $13,270 | $64,466 |
13.) Boston Architectural College
Boston Architectural College, or BAC, is New England’s largest college of spatial design. The school offers degrees in architecture, and interior and landscape design. The school maintains a large gallery for exhibiting student work, and frequently hosts workshops and conferences for its students.
The university has a long history and is located on historic Boylston Street in Boston. The university has an open admission policy and high attrition rates, but students who complete the program are among the most successful architects in the country. The university maintains small class sizes and has a student-faculty ratio of 7:1.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $20,666 | $13,280 | $33,946 |
| Out-of-state | $20,666 | $13,280 | $33,946 |
14.) University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame is a private university located in South Bend, Indiana, 100 miles from Chicago. The school is highly regarded for its undergraduate education, and enrolls 8,500 students in its programs. The school’s business and law schools are nationally ranked, and its athletic program has fans across the country.
The University of Notre Dame is ranked 7th in the United States for undergraduate teaching. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 10:1, and 60% of its classes have fewer than twenty students. The school has a popular study abroad program, and over half of the students at Notre Dame spend a semester in a foreign country.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $47,929 | $14,358 | $62,287 |
| Out-of-state | $47,929 | $14,358 | $62,287 |
15.) University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The school was founded in 1876 and has 20,000 undergraduate students. The school offers over 300 different degree programs, and has top schools for business, architecture, and education. The university is famous for its track program, which is the birthplace of Nike and has produced countless Olympians.
The town that surrounds the university is famous for its arts and outdoor activities. Students have countless events and festivals that they can take part in, and the school has hundreds of clubs and organizations. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 18:1, and 40% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $10,762 | $12,210 | $22,972 |
| Out-of-state | $33,442 | $12,210 | $45,652 |
16.) The Cooper Union
Cooper Union is a private college in Manhattan, New York City. The university was funded in 1830, as a free college for qualified student. The university is no longer free, but it is one of the top architecture schools in the country, with an enrollment of just 900 students.
The university has many student organizations, ranging from cooking to outdoor clubs. The school’s location in New York makes it easy for students to take in different types of local architecture. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 9:1, and 70% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $42,000 | $15,910 | $57,910 |
| Out-of-state | $42,000 | $15,910 | $57,910 |
17.) University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private university located in Los Angeles, California. The university has 18,000 undergraduate students and a strong tradition of innovation among its alumni. Former students have gone on to start a variety of tech companies, and the school has produced the fourth largest number of billionaire alumni in the world.
Students at USC can participate in over 700 on-campus organizations and the school’s athletes have won over 300 Olympic medals, the most of any American university. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and its average class has just 23 students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $49,464 | $14,348 | $63,812 |
| Out-of-state | $49,464 | $14,348 | $63,812 |
18.) Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University, or Penn State, is a public research university located in University Park, Pennsylvania. The school was founded in 1855 and has an undergraduate enrollment of 46,000. The university has a very active campus, with over 950 clubs and organizations ad opportunities for skiing and hiking in the nearby mountains.
The university has top ranked programs in education and engineering, and is ranked 14th in the country for top public universities. The student-faculty ratio is 16:1, and 40% of classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $17,900 | $11,860 | $29,760 |
| Out-of-state | $31,346 | $11,860 | $43,206 |
19.) The University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public university located in Fayetteville, the third largest city in Arkansas. The university has received praise for its research work, and is known for its strong architecture, agriculture, history, and law programs.
Undergraduate enrollment at Arkansas is 26,000 students and the university has over 200 academic programs. The student-faculty ratio is 19:1 and over 45% of classes have fewer than twenty students. The school has a large alumni network, and its list of former professors include both Bill and Hillary Clinton.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $8,820 | $10,332 | $19,152 |
| Out-of-state | $20,300 | $10,332 | $50,932 |
20.) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, is a private university in Troy, New York. The school was founded in 1824 as a science institute, and is the oldest technological university in the US. The school has a beautiful urban campus overlooking the Hudson River, and is known for its traditional architecture. Today the school offers degrees in 140 programs and enrolls 5,800 students.
Rensselaer offers more than 175 different organizations for students to join, and the school’s location is near hiking, camping, and waterfront spots. The university is nationally known for its engineering program, and for its unique accelerated programs combining bachelor degrees with masters or law degrees. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 15:1, and 50% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $47,908 | $14,630 | $62,538 |
| Out-of-state | $47,908 | $14,630 | $62,538 |
21.) University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private university in Coral Gables, Florida, a small coastal town south of Miami. The school has 11,000 undergraduate students and offers 116 undergraduate majors. The university has an ideal location for students who love the outdoors, especially hiking and water sports.
The university has an active campus, with over 250 clubs and over 30 fraternities and sororities. The university is ranked in the top-50 for national universities and has a student-faculty ratio of 12:1. The most popular majors are business, marketing, and biological sciences.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $47,004 | $13,310 | $60,314 |
| Out-of-state | $47,004 | $13,310 | $60,314 |
22.) North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University is a public university located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school is near Duke University and the University of North Carolina, and the three schools work closely with each other on research projects.
NC State has an undergraduate enrollment of 25,000 students, and offers over 100 majors and 400 student clubs. The school has highly ranked programs for engineering and education, and has a student-faculty ratio of 14:1.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $8,880 | $10,635 | $20,369 |
| Out-of-state | $26,399 | $10,635 | $37,034 |
23.) Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University is a public university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1853 and has an undergraduate enrollment of 26,000 students. The university has over 350 student organizations and its location in Baton Rouge allows students to participate in activities around the capital city of Louisiana
The school has a student-faculty ratio of 23:1 and 35% of classes have fewer than twenty students. The university has a large alumni network, and former students include basketball player Shaquille O’Neal and former vice president Hubert Humphrey.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $9,842 | $11,200 | $21,042 |
| Out-of-state | $27,491 | $11,200 | $38,691 |
24.) Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, or IIT, is a private university in Chicago, Illinois. The school offers programs in engineering, science, architecture, and business, and was established in 1890. Today the school has 2,900 undergraduate students, along with a large graduate cohort. The school is considered one of the most rigorous universities in the country, and its graduates are some of the best paid in the nation.
The university has over 100 different clubs for students to join, and students at IIT can always find entertainment off campus in Chicago. The university is noted for its success in science and engineering, and stresses the importance of hands on learning. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1, and 50% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $45,214 | $11,612 | $56,826 |
| Out-of-state | $45,214 | $11,612 | $56,826 |
25.) Drexel University
Drexel University is a private university with a main campus in Philadelphia and a smaller one in Sacramento, California. The school was founded in 1891 and has 16,900 undergraduate students pursuing over 70 different majors. One unique aspect of Drexel is the focus that they put on work experience, with many of its programs requiring an 18-month paid internship prior to graduation.
Students at Drexel can travel around Philadelphia, visiting museums, sports games, and attending concerts. The university also has over 300 student clubs and several sports teams. Over 50% of classes at Drexel have fewer than twenty students, and its top programs include medicine, business, and engineering.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $47,051 | $14,367 | $61,418 |
| Out-of-state | $47,051 | $14,367 | $61,418 |
26.) Temple University
Temple University is a public university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The university was founded in 1884 and has 28,000 undergraduate students. In addition to its main campus in North Philadelphia, the university also has international campuses in Tokyo and Rome.
Students at Temple can choose between over 300 student organizations, and the school’s location just two miles from downtown Philadelphia lets students travel easily around the city. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 14:1, and 40% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $15,688 | $11,146 | $26,834 |
| Out-of-state | $25,994 | $11,146 | $37,140 |
27.) University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a public university in Tucson, Arizona. The school was founded in 1885 and is the oldest university in the state. It has a large campus with over 40,000 students, and has top law, business, and science programs. The school has an urban campus, just north of the Mexico border, and the area is famous for its outdoor recreation.
The university offers a wide range of academic and social opportunities for students to participate in. The school has a popular sports team along with countless intramural sports clubs. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 23:1, and 40% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $10,872 | $9,840 | $20,712 |
| Out-of-state | $30,025 | $9,840 | $39,865 |
28.) New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public university in Newark, New Jersey. The school is located just minutes from Newark’s downtown area, and just 9 miles away from New York City. The school was founded in 1881 and has 8,000 undergraduate students. NJIT offers 50 different majors and has one of the most international campuses in the country.
NJIT attracts students from around the country to study architecture, engineering, and science. Students at NJIT can participate in the extensive research that goes on at the university, and they can easily travel into New York City. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 17:1, and 35% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $16,108 | $13,300 | $29,408 |
| Out-of-state | $30,326 | $13,300 | $43,626 |
29.) Howard University
Howard University is a private historically black university in Washington, D.C. The university was founded in 1867 and enrolls over 10,000 students. The school is one of the top universities in the country, and offers a wide range of academic programs.
Howard University is located near the center of D.C., and students can easily walk to the nearby parks, monuments, and museums. The school offers countless student organizations, and has a low student-faculty ratio of 10:1. Some famous alumni of Howard include prize-winning author Toni Morrison and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $23,970 | $13,280 | $37,250 |
| Out-of-state | $23,970 | $13,280 | $37,250 |
30.) University of North Carolina – Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public university in Charlotte, North Carolina. The university offers 90 different majors for its students and has 28,000 students. The school has a large, scenic campus in a suburban area, and the surrounding area features a mix of outdoor activities, along with cultural and entertainment events in Charlotte.
UNC Charlotte has top programs for business, engineering, and architecture, and is considered one of the top public schools in the country. Students at UNC Charlotte find a variety of clubs and intramural sports to take part in, along with lots of internship and work opportunities. The school has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1, and 25% of its classes have fewer than twenty students.
| Tuition | Housing | Total | |
| In-state | $6,617 | $11,940 | $18,557 |
| Out-of-state | $20,193 | $11,940 | $32,133 |