Best Architecture Colleges in the South (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 38 Architecture programs in the South by median earnings of Architecture graduates four years after completing. The University of Texas at Austin leads the list at $76,808, followed by University of Georgia at $74,983 and North Carolina State University at Raleigh at $73,190.
Across the 33 schools with a published figure, earnings range from $76,808 to $42,682, with a median of $67,204. For 2 of the listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list is heavily public: 33 of the 38 schools are public, and the remaining 5 are private nonprofits. University of Florida reports the lowest average net price on the page at $6,541, while University of Virginia-Main Campus posts the highest six-year completion rate at 96%.
The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Architecture Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $76,808 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| The University of Texas at Austin reports $76,808 in median earnings of Architecture graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list, and ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (65 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($76,808) | |||||
| 2 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $74,983 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 90%, University of Georgia posts median earnings of $74,983 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Landscape Architecture (45 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Landscape Architecture ($74,983) | |||||
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $73,190 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh admits 42% of applicants and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $73,190 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Environmental Design (21 graduates), Architecture (20 graduates) | |||||
| 4 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus · Stillwater, OK | $73,075 | $17,447 | $12,243 | 75.0% |
| Oklahoma State University-Main Campus carries an average net price of $17,447 and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $73,075 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (41 graduates), Landscape Architecture (8 graduates) | |||||
| 5 | Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA | No published median | $39,949 | $16,126 | 14.0% |
| A private nonprofit university in New Orleans, Tulane University of Louisiana admits 14% of applicants and graduates 86% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (18 graduates), Architecture (17 graduates), Real Estate Development (17 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus · Atlanta, GA | $71,292 | $12,116 | $7,666 | 14.1% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus reports median earnings of $71,292 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $12,116. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (41 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($71,292) | |||||
| 7 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $71,240 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 93.9% |
| Western Kentucky University posts an average net price of $7,087 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $71,240 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architectural Sciences and Technology ($71,240) | |||||
| 8 | Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw, GA | $70,752 | $15,048 | $12,235 | 69.2% |
| Kennesaw State University ranks 24th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $70,752 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (48 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($70,752) | |||||
| 9 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $70,616 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 65%, University of Houston posts median earnings of $70,616 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (95 graduates), Environmental Design (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($70,616) | |||||
| 10 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus · Norman, OK | $70,383 | $15,300 | $10,509 | 76.6% |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus carries an average net price of $15,300 and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $70,383 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (26 graduates), Architecture (12 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · Tallahassee, FL | $69,874 | $13,739 | $13,299 | 20.6% |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University admits 21% of applicants and reports median earnings of $69,874 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (38 graduates) | |||||
| 12 | The Catholic University of America · Washington, DC | $69,838 | $29,561 | $17,358 | 82.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Washington, The Catholic University of America graduates 79% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $69,838 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (59 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($69,838) | |||||
| 13 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $69,494 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
| Auburn University reports median earnings of $69,494 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, and admits 46% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (62 graduates), Environmental Design (27 graduates), Interior Architecture (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($72,420) | |||||
| 14 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $68,527 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 89%, University of Maryland-College Park ranks 14th on this list and posts an average net price of $15,678. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (124 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($68,527) | |||||
| 15 | University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA | No published median | $21,565 | $8,174 | 16.8% |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus admits 17% of applicants and posts an average net price of $8,174 for families earning under $30,000, and ranks 15th on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (73 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (14 graduates), Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($70,213) | |||||
| 16 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN | $67,651 | $18,976 | $10,029 | 41.6% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville reports median earnings of $67,651 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $18,976. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (72 graduates), Interior Architecture (32 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($68,765) | |||||
| 17 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $67,399 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
| University of Florida reports median earnings of $67,399 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, and its average net price of $6,541 is the lowest on the page. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (92 graduates), Landscape Architecture (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($67,399) | |||||
| 18 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $67,352 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station ranks 25th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $67,352 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (90 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (28 graduates), Landscape Architecture (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Landscape Architecture ($73,729), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning ($70,592), Architecture ($64,643) | |||||
| 19 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $67,204 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| Admitting 80% of applicants, University of North Carolina at Charlotte reports median earnings of $67,204 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($67,204) | |||||
| 20 | Mississippi State University · Mississippi State, MS | $65,334 | $17,595 | $14,332 | 77.6% |
| Mississippi State University graduates 67% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $65,334 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Interior Architecture (29 graduates), Architecture (26 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($69,699) | |||||
| 21 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA | $64,936 | $19,151 | $13,056 | 73.3% |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College ranks 81st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $64,936 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (40 graduates), Interior Architecture (35 graduates), Landscape Architecture (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($69,029), Landscape Architecture ($68,140), Interior Architecture ($58,518) | |||||
| 22 | University of Central Florida · Orlando, FL | $64,826 | $10,411 | $5,816 | 40.1% |
| With an average net price of $10,411, University of Central Florida reports median earnings of $64,826 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (39 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | $64,177 | $22,253 | $13,607 | 38.3% |
| Clemson University admits 38% of applicants and reports median earnings of $64,177 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (86 graduates), Landscape Architecture (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Landscape Architecture ($65,469), Architecture ($63,892) | |||||
| 24 | Savannah College of Art and Design · Savannah, GA | $64,052 | $49,430 | $44,858 | 83.0% |
| A private nonprofit institution, Savannah College of Art and Design reports median earnings of $64,052 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $49,430. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architectural Sciences and Technology ($64,052) | |||||
| 25 | University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY | $62,730 | $18,851 | $12,182 | 92.9% |
| University of Kentucky reports median earnings of $62,730 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $18,851. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (57 graduates), Landscape Architecture (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($62,383) | |||||
| 26 | Prairie View A & M University · Prairie View, TX | $62,540 | $13,570 | $12,120 | 79.3% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 43%, Prairie View A & M University ranks 26th on this list and posts an average net price of $12,120 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (37 graduates) | |||||
| 27 | University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR | No published median | $18,209 | $14,319 | 74.3% |
| University of Arkansas admits 74% of applicants and holds an Azimuth composite rank of 218th among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (60 graduates), Landscape Architecture (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($67,955) | |||||
| 28 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $62,345 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
| The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest position on this list, alongside median earnings of $62,345 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (80 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($62,345) | |||||
| 29 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | No published median | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
| A public university in Lubbock, Texas Tech University graduates 69% of its students within six years and carries an average net price of $19,070. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (117 graduates), Landscape Architecture (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($63,871) | |||||
| 30 | Morgan State University · Baltimore, MD | $59,586 | $14,985 | $9,585 | 82.2% |
| Morgan State University posts median earnings of $59,586 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $9,585 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (39 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($59,586) | |||||
| 31 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $58,582 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
| Ranking 31st on this list, The University of Texas at San Antonio reports an average net price of $10,836 and a six-year completion rate of 53%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (69 graduates), Interior Architecture (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($57,778) | |||||
| 32 | Florida Atlantic University · Boca Raton, FL | $58,091 | $8,752 | $3,022 | 66.1% |
| Florida Atlantic University admits 66% of applicants, and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $58,091 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (46 graduates), Environmental Design (31 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning ($66,093) | |||||
| 33 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | No published median | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University holds a six-year completion rate of 86% and an average net price of $11,689 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (129 graduates), Landscape Architecture (10 graduates) | |||||
| 34 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $55,625 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
| With an Azimuth composite rank of 40th among nonprofit four-year institutions, Texas State University reports median earnings of $55,625 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. | |||||
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 ($55,625) | |||||
| 35 | Louisiana Tech University · Ruston, LA | $53,731 | $11,864 | $7,676 | 86.4% |
| Louisiana Tech University ranks 35th on this list, admits 86% of applicants, and posts an average net price of $7,676 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture and Related Services, Other (39 graduates), Interior Architecture (8 graduates) | |||||
| 36 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA | $51,546 | $13,530 | $11,157 | 87.0% |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette reports median earnings of $51,546 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 53%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture and Related Services, Other (30 graduates), Interior Architecture (25 graduates) | |||||
| 37 | Howard University · Washington, DC | $44,971 | $50,539 | $46,051 | 41.3% |
| Howard University reports median earnings of $44,971 for its Architecture graduates two years after completing, and an average net price of $46,051 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (12 graduates) | |||||
| 38 | Tuskegee University · Tuskegee, AL | $42,682 | $35,013 | $34,324 | 48.7% |
| Tuskegee University admits 49% of applicants and its Architecture graduates earn a median of $42,682 two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (9 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 South appear. The figures represent median earnings of federally aided Architecture completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 2 of the 38 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 33 schools with a published figure. The University of Texas at Austin leads University of Georgia by $1,825 in median earnings, and the spread from top to bottom reaches $34,126.
Related rankings
- Architecture Colleges
- Best Colleges in the South
- Best Architecture Colleges in the Northeast
- Best Architecture Colleges in the Midwest
- Best Architecture Colleges in the West
- Architecture Colleges in the South for Social Mobility