Best Architecture Colleges in the Northeast (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 28 Architecture programs in the Northeast by the median earnings of Architecture graduates four years after completing. University of Massachusetts-Amherst leads the list at $93,156, followed by Pratt Institute-Main at $84,447 and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at $75,551.
Across the 24 schools with a reported completion median, median earnings reach $66,071, with values spanning from $93,156 to $31,839.
The list includes 12 public and 16 private nonprofit institutions. CUNY New York City College of Technology posts the lowest average net price at $5,127, while Cornell University reports the highest six-year completion rate at 95%.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Architecture Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst · Amherst, MA | $93,156 | $22,383 | $10,164 | 59.7% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst reports $93,156 in median earnings for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, and ranks 145th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (94 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | Pratt Institute-Main · Brooklyn, NY | $84,447 | $52,659 | $38,545 | 73.3% |
| With an average net price of $52,659, Pratt Institute-Main admits 73% of applicants and graduates 74% within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (123 graduates) | |||||
| 3 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Troy, NY | $75,551 | $36,228 | $24,078 | 63.5% |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute posts a six-year completion rate of 84% alongside median earnings of $75,551 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (57 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($75,551) | |||||
| 4 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $75,485 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus ranks 271st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $75,485 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (50 graduates), Landscape Architecture (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($76,181), Landscape Architecture ($74,363) | |||||
| 5 | Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY | $75,225 | $38,793 | $15,817 | 45.9% |
| Syracuse University admits 46% of applicants and reports an average net price of $15,817 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (119 graduates), Interior Architecture (17 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | University of Rhode Island · Kingston, RI | $74,488 | $21,440 | $14,368 | 72.2% |
| A public university in Kingston, University of Rhode Island shows median earnings of $74,488 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Landscape Architecture (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Landscape Architecture ($74,488) | |||||
| 7 | Drexel University · Philadelphia, PA | $72,915 | $38,509 | $28,055 | 79.4% |
| Drexel University graduates 78% within six years and lists an average net price of $38,509. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($72,915) | |||||
| 8 | New York Institute of Technology · Old Westbury, NY | $69,776 | $22,443 | $17,084 | 81.0% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 59%, New York Institute of Technology reports median earnings of $69,776 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (97 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architectural Sciences and Technology ($69,776) | |||||
| 9 | New Jersey Institute of Technology · Newark, NJ | $69,456 | $16,504 | $10,138 | 65.1% |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology ranks 84th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $16,504. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (68 graduates) | |||||
| 10 | Thomas Jefferson University · Philadelphia, PA | $68,758 | $28,928 | $22,537 | 81.0% |
| Thomas Jefferson University admits 81% of applicants, and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $68,758 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (52 graduates), Interior Architecture (17 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | Hobart William Smith Colleges · Geneva, NY | $68,341 | $31,563 | $14,650 | 64.0% |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges reports an average net price of $14,650 for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 77%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture and Related Services, Other (26 graduates) | |||||
| 12 | Cornell University · Ithaca, NY | $67,096 | $28,690 | $1,776 | 8.8% |
| Cornell University admits 9% of applicants and graduates 95% within six years, with an average net price of $1,776 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (76 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (15 graduates), Landscape Architecture (5 graduates) | |||||
| 13 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $67,050 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 13th on this list and is 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Landscape Architecture (19 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (13 graduates), Environmental Design (7 graduates) | |||||
| 14 | Roger Williams University · Bristol, RI | $65,092 | $37,999 | $29,778 | 87.7% |
| Roger Williams University reports median earnings of $65,092 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 69%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (63 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($65,092) | |||||
| 15 | Temple University · Philadelphia, PA | $64,670 | $28,198 | $22,694 | 80.4% |
| A public university in Philadelphia, Temple University ranks 15th on this list and posts an average net price of $28,198. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (61 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (11 graduates), Landscape Architecture (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architectural Sciences and Technology ($66,518) | |||||
| 16 | Marywood University · Scranton, PA | $62,766 | $23,388 | $18,941 | 60.6% |
| Marywood University admits 61% of applicants and shows median earnings of $62,766 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (34 graduates), Interior Architecture (12 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($67,178) | |||||
| 17 | CUNY New York City College of Technology · Brooklyn, NY | $61,664 | $5,127 | $3,810 | 80.3% |
| With an average net price of $5,127, CUNY New York City College of Technology ranks 17th on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 21%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (98 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architectural Sciences and Technology ($61,664) | |||||
| 18 | Keene State College · Keene, NH | $61,304 | $17,887 | $12,192 | 90.3% |
| Keene State College has a six-year completion rate of 60% and lists median earnings of $61,304 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (38 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($61,304) | |||||
| 19 | Westfield State University · Westfield, MA | $59,524 | $16,721 | $10,751 | 81.4% |
| Ranking 19th on this list, Westfield State University reports median earnings of $59,524 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 81%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning ($59,524) | |||||
| 20 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry · Syracuse, NY | $59,480 | $18,952 | $9,473 | 63.3% |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry shows an average net price of $18,952 and median earnings of $59,480 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Landscape Architecture (15 graduates) | |||||
| 21 | Norwich University · Northfield, VT | $58,534 | $22,257 | $15,610 | 74.4% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Northfield, Norwich University ranks 21st on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 60%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (19 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | University at Buffalo · Buffalo, NY | $55,484 | $20,995 | $14,668 | 74.2% |
| University at Buffalo lists median earnings of $55,484 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 74%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Environmental Design (76 graduates), Architecture (70 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($61,525), Environmental Design ($49,920) | |||||
| 23 | Rhode Island School of Design · Providence, RI | $53,617 | $50,507 | $29,135 | 18.7% |
| Rhode Island School of Design admits 19% of applicants and has a six-year completion rate of 89%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (34 graduates), Architecture (22 graduates) | |||||
| 24 | Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA | $53,499 | $31,944 | $9,097 | 11.7% |
| With an admission rate of 12%, Carnegie Mellon University ranks 24th on this list and posts a six-year completion rate of 94%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (36 graduates), Architecture (9 graduates) | |||||
| 25 | University of New Haven · West Haven, CT | $52,854 | $34,192 | $27,837 | 60.4% |
| University of New Haven reports $52,854 in median earnings for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $34,192. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Interior Architecture (21 graduates) | |||||
| 26 | La Roche University · Pittsburgh, PA | $42,682 | $20,794 | $16,152 | 75.8% |
| La Roche University admits 76% of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 57%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Interior Architecture (6 graduates) | |||||
| 27 | Chatham University · Pittsburgh, PA | $32,382 | $29,954 | $22,675 | 62.0% |
| Chatham University ranks 867th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $32,382 two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Interior Architecture (15 graduates) | |||||
| 28 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania · Indiana, PA | $31,839 | $16,804 | $12,364 | 90.8% |
| A public university in Indiana, Indiana University of Pennsylvania has an average net price of $16,804 and an admission rate of 91%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (7 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Architecture graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing. For 3 of the 28 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 figures cited on this page cover the 24 schools with a reported completion median. The gap between first-ranked University of Massachusetts-Amherst and second-ranked Pratt Institute-Main is $8,709, and the spread from top to bottom reaches $61,317.
Related rankings
- Architecture Colleges
- Best Colleges in the Northeast
- Best Architecture Colleges in the Midwest
- Best Architecture Colleges in the West
- Best Architecture Colleges in the South
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