Best Architecture Colleges in the Midwest (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 24 Architecture programs in the Midwest by the median earnings of Architecture graduates four years after completing. University of Notre Dame leads the list with median earnings of $82,983 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the 19 schools with a published figure, earnings range from $82,983 to $26,353, with a median of $63,104.
Public institutions make up 75% of the list, with 18 public and 6 private nonprofit schools represented. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. Indiana State University posts the lowest average net price at $10,873.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Architecture Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN | $82,983 | $26,780 | $7,244 | 11.3% |
| University of Notre Dame reports $82,983 in median earnings of Architecture graduates four years after completing and carries an 11% admission rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($82,983) | |||||
| 2 | Drury University · Springfield, MO | $70,134 | $20,831 | $18,759 | 57.6% |
| With an average net price of $20,831, Drury University ranks 2nd on this list and posts a 62% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (30 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($70,134) | |||||
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $67,147 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates 85% of its students within six years and reports $67,147 in median earnings for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (78 graduates) | |||||
| 4 | Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN | $67,113 | $14,600 | $5,098 | 49.9% |
| Purdue University-Main Campus admits 50% of applicants and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $67,113 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Landscape Architecture (22 graduates) | |||||
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $65,015 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $65,015 in median earnings of Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (52 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($65,015) | |||||
| 6 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH | $64,718 | $25,648 | $17,974 | 85.3% |
| A public university in Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus reports median earnings of $64,718 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing and a 75% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (88 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($65,449) | |||||
| 7 | Judson University · Elgin, IL | $63,846 | $18,558 | $15,701 | 47.6% |
| Judson University reports $63,846 in median earnings of Architecture graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $18,558. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($63,846) | |||||
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $63,759 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| Graduates of University of Wisconsin-Madison earn a median of $63,759 four years after completing their Architecture degree, and the school posts a 90% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Landscape Architecture (9 graduates) | |||||
| 9 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | $63,633 | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus admits 95% of applicants and reports $63,633 in median earnings for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (58 graduates), Environmental Design (11 graduates) | |||||
| 10 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $63,104 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale reports an average net price of $13,297 and median earnings of $63,104 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($63,104) | |||||
| 11 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $62,922 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus ranks 90th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $62,922 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (75 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (45 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($66,131), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning ($57,573) | |||||
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI | $62,803 | $15,014 | $10,329 | 90.7% |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reports $62,803 in median earnings of Architecture graduates four years after completing and a 49% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (82 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($62,803) | |||||
| 13 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $62,522 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 67%, University of Nebraska-Lincoln reports median earnings of $62,522 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (45 graduates), Interior Architecture (25 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Interior Architecture ($62,201) | |||||
| 14 | Andrews University · Berrien Springs, MI | $62,157 | $12,547 | $13,406 | 81.9% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Berrien Springs, Andrews University carries an average net price of $12,547 and an admission rate of 82%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (12 graduates) | |||||
| 15 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | No published median | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranks 107th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its average net price for families earning under $30,000 is $6,642. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (100 graduates), Environmental Design (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($62,246) | |||||
| 16 | Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH | $59,299 | $20,787 | $15,280 | 86.3% |
| Kent State University at Kent posts a six-year completion rate of 64% alongside median earnings of $59,299 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (104 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($59,299) | |||||
| 17 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | No published median | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
| With an admission rate of 89%, Iowa State University ranks 194th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (78 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning ($61,173) | |||||
| 18 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH | $57,006 | $24,022 | $18,396 | 81.0% |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus shows an average net price of $24,022 and median earnings of $57,006 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Environmental Design (25 graduates), Interior Architecture (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Environmental Design ($59,873), Interior Architecture ($53,592) | |||||
| 19 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $56,975 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
| University of Illinois Chicago admits 77% of applicants and reports median earnings of $56,975 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (56 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($56,975) | |||||
| 20 | Indiana State University · Terre Haute, IN | $52,693 | $10,873 | $6,455 | 80.8% |
| Indiana State University graduates 43% of its students within six years, and its average net price for families earning under $30,000 is $6,455. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Interior Architecture (11 graduates), Architectural Sciences and Technology (8 graduates) | |||||
| 21 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | No published median | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
| Miami University-Oxford ranks 626th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $28,384. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (53 graduates), Interior Architecture (21 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (16 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | Ball State University · Muncie, IN | No published median | $14,940 | $7,834 | 85.5% |
| A public university in Muncie, Ball State University reports a six-year completion rate of 62% and an admission rate of 86%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (58 graduates), Landscape Architecture (13 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Landscape Architecture ($65,382) | |||||
| 23 | Illinois Institute of Technology · Chicago, IL | No published median | $18,425 | $12,964 | 54.9% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology admits 55% of applicants and shows an average net price of $12,964 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (76 graduates) | |||||
| 24 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $26,353 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
| DePaul University reports median earnings of $26,353 for its Architecture graduates two years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 68%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation (6 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Architecture graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Architecture earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figure reflects federally aided Architecture completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 1 of the 24 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 19 schools with a published figure. University of Notre Dame leads Drury University by $12,849, and the spread from University of Notre Dame to the bottom of the list reaches $56,630.
Related rankings
- Architecture Colleges
- Best Colleges in the Midwest
- Best Architecture Colleges in the Northeast
- Best Architecture Colleges in the West
- Best Architecture Colleges in the South
- Architecture Colleges in the Midwest for Social Mobility