Compare 32 Architectural Technology/Technician. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $63,431. Top programs: $103,414+.
The highest-earning Architectural Technology/Technician program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $65K earnings gap across 32 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. Graduates at the top earn $103K — those at the bottom, under $39K — a spread that makes program choice far more consequential than school name.
Topping the list, the University of Washington-Seattle Campus delivers $103K in median earnings for Architectural Technology graduates — well above the $63K field average. UMass Amherst follows at $93K, a public university outranking several well-known private institutions. That gap between first and average alone exceeds $40K, reinforcing that program quality drives outcomes independently of a school's overall reputation.
High earnings matter most when debt stays manageable. University of Washington graduates borrow just $14,615 in student loans and carry only a 2.5% payment burden — firmly 'Excellent' by GPS standards. For families, UW holds the same advantage: a 7.3% combined burden, also 'Excellent.' Compare that to Pratt Institute's 28.4% family burden, and the financial case for evaluating programs individually becomes impossible to ignore. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $103,414
Strong outcomes ($93,156) with 60% acceptance rate
2.5% payment burden | Excellent — payment under 8% of discretionary
7.3% family burden | Excellent — payment under 8% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $103,414 | 74 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Excellent | |
| #2 | $93,156 | 94 | $22,763 | Excellent | $26,243 | Good | |
| #3 | Pratt Institute-MainPrivate | $84,447 | 123 | $26,000 | Excellent | $88,930 | High |
| #4 | $78,741 | 70 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Manageable | |
| #5 | Art Center College Of DesignPrivate | $77,401 | 22 | $31,000 | Excellent | $66,614 | High |
| #6 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $76,367 | 119 | $26,000 | Excellent | $39,841 | Challenging |
| #7 | $73,075 | 41 | $20,500 | Excellent | $38,513 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $71,914 | 76 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Manageable |
| #9 | $71,240 | 22 | $22,095 | Excellent | $18,310 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $69,776 | 97 | $23,334 | Excellent | $39,731 | Challenging | |
| #11 | $69,456 | 68 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,866 | Manageable | |
| #12 | Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrivate | $68,760 | 52 | $14,744 | Excellent | $32,255 | Manageable |
| #13 | University Of OregonPublic | $67,623 | 66 | $20,139 | Excellent | $44,405 | Challenging |
| #14 | $67,147 | 78 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #15 | Temple UniversityPublic | $66,518 | 61 | $24,395 | Excellent | $36,495 | Challenging |
| #16 | Montana State UniversityPublic | $64,133 | 29 | $22,500 | Excellent | $25,000 | Manageable |
| #17 | $64,052 | 67 | $25,148 | Good | $99,784 | High | |
| #18 | Andrews UniversityPrivate | $62,157 | 12 | $26,000 | Good | $27,219 | Challenging |
| #19 | $61,664 | 98 | $10,533 | Excellent | $9,563 | Excellent | |
| #20 | $58,653 | 180 | — | — | — | — | |
| #21 | $58,573 | 13 | $15,180 | Excellent | $16,789 | Manageable | |
| #22 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $57,928 | 78 | — | — | — | — |
| #23 | $56,797 | 129 | — | — | — | — | |
| #24 | $55,673 | 34 | — | — | — | — | |
| #25 | $49,561 | 50 | — | — | — | — |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
