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# Best Architecture Colleges in the Midwest (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Programs in this field[Architecture](/rankings/best-architecture-programs-in-the-midwest/)

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](/school/university-of-notre-dame/majors/) 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

24 schools in list order

| 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](/school/university-of-notre-dame/majors/) reports [$82,983 in median earnings](/school/university-of-notre-dame/outcomes/) 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,](/school/drury-university/cost/) [Drury University](/school/drury-university/majors/) 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](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/majors/) [graduates 85% of its students within six years](/school/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign/outcomes/) 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](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/majors/) [admits 50% of applicants](/school/purdue-university-main-campus/admissions/) 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](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/majors/) [ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor/) 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](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $64,718](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/majors/) earn a [median of $63,759](/school/university-of-wisconsin-madison/outcomes/) 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](/school/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus/majors/) [admits 95% of applicants](/school/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus/admissions/) 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](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/) reports an [average net price of $13,297](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/cost/) 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](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) [ranks 90th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/) 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](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/majors/) reports [$62,803 in median earnings](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/outcomes/) 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%](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/outcomes/), [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/) 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](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/) [ranks 107th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/) 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](/school/kent-state-university-at-kent/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 64%](/school/kent-state-university-at-kent/outcomes/) 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%](/school/iowa-state-university/admissions/), [Iowa State University](/school/iowa-state-university/majors/) 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](/school/bowling-green-state-university-main-campus/majors/) shows an [average net price of $24,022](/school/bowling-green-state-university-main-campus/cost/) 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](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/majors/) [admits 77% of applicants](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/admissions/) 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](/school/indiana-state-university/majors/) [graduates 43% of its students within six years](/school/indiana-state-university/outcomes/), 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](/school/miami-university-oxford/majors/) [ranks 626th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/miami-university-oxford/) 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](/school/ball-state-university/majors/) reports a [six-year completion rate of 62%](/school/ball-state-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/illinois-institute-of-technology/majors/) [admits 55% of applicants](/school/illinois-institute-of-technology/admissions/) 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](/school/depaul-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $26,353](/school/depaul-university/outcomes/) 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](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Architecture Colleges in the Northeast](/rankings/best-architecture-colleges-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Architecture Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-architecture-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   [Best Architecture Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-architecture-colleges-in-the-south/)
-   Architecture Colleges in the Midwest for Social Mobility