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# Best Architecture Colleges in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

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

This page ranks the 24 Architecture programs in the West by median earnings of Architecture graduates four years after completing, highest first. [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) holds the top spot, and [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/majors/) follows with $85,334 four years after completing.

Across the 11 schools with a reported figure, median earnings range from $85,334 to $31,305, with a median of $61,788. For 3 of the 11 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 79% of the list, with 19 public and 5 private nonprofit schools represented. California State University-Sacramento posts the lowest average net price at $9,338.

University of California-Berkeley holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank, placing 4th among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## 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 Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | No published median | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reports an [admission rate of 10%](/school/university-of-southern-california/admissions/), and graduates 92% within six years. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Real Estate Development (100 graduates), Architectural Sciences and Technology (70 graduates), Architecture (7 graduates) |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $85,334 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
|  | With [median earnings of $85,334](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/majors/) posts an average net price of $14,091. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (74 graduates), Architecture (68 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architectural Sciences and Technology ($103,414), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning ($73,413), Architecture ($69,515) |
| 3 | Art Center College of Design · Pasadena, CA | $77,401 | $48,661 | $39,645 | 74.5% |
|  | Art Center College of Design reports median earnings of $77,401 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 75%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (22 graduates) |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $73,961 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | An [average net price of $11,531](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/cost/) coincides with median earnings of $73,961 for Architecture graduates four years after completing at [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (107 graduates), Landscape Architecture (66 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($76,969), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning ($72,704), Landscape Architecture ($69,790) |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | No published median | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) [ranks 4th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $13,481. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (113 graduates), Environmental Design (19 graduates), Landscape Architecture (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Architecture ($76,679) |
| 6 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV | No published median | $10,359 | $8,526 | 96.2% |
|  | Admitting 96% of applicants, [University of Nevada-Las Vegas](/school/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/majors/) reports an [average net price of $10,359](/school/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/cost/) and a six-year completion rate of 51%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (26 graduates), Interior Architecture (22 graduates), Landscape Architecture (7 graduates) |
| 7 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | No published median | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
|  | An [average net price of $15,909](/school/university-of-oregon/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with a 72% six-year completion rate at [University of Oregon](/school/university-of-oregon/majors/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (66 graduates), Landscape Architecture (12 graduates), Interior Architecture (11 graduates) |
| 8 | Montana State University · Bozeman, MT | $64,133 | $22,499 | $17,797 | 82.1% |
|  | Montana State University posts median earnings of $64,133 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 82%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (29 graduates) |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | No published median | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | A public institution in San Luis Obispo, [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) graduates 86% within six years and [admits 31% of applicants](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/admissions/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (180 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (36 graduates), Landscape Architecture (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Landscape Architecture ($68,795) |
| 10 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $62,349 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 53%](/school/portland-state-university/outcomes/), [Portland State University](/school/portland-state-university/majors/) reports median earnings of $62,349 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 ($62,349) |
| 11 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $61,788 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
|  | [University of Colorado Boulder](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/) reports [median earnings of $61,788](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 78%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Environmental Design (150 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Environmental Design ($61,788) |
| 12 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $61,410 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) carries the lowest average net price on the page at $9,338 and reports [median earnings of $61,410](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Interior Architecture (49 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Interior Architecture ($61,410) |
| 13 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | No published median | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
|  | [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/majors/) ranks 13th on this list and holds an [Azimuth composite rank of 21st](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (70 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (61 graduates), Environmental Design (58 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning ($68,163), Architecture ($60,297) |
| 14 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | No published median | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
|  | A public university in Tucson, [University of Arizona](/school/university-of-arizona/majors/) reports a [six-year completion rate of 68%](/school/university-of-arizona/outcomes/) and an average net price of $16,674. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (61 graduates), City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning (50 graduates), Architecture and Related Services, Other (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning ($76,360), Architecture and Related Services, Other ($55,226) |
| 15 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $59,090 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
|  | [University of Hawaii at Manoa](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/majors/) reports [median earnings of $59,090](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 87%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Environmental Design (43 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Environmental Design ($59,090) |
| 16 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | No published median | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 89%](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/admissions/), [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/majors/) has an average net price of $13,259 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Interior Architecture (45 graduates), Landscape Architecture (22 graduates) |
| 17 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $55,286 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
|  | [University of San Francisco](/school/university-of-san-francisco/majors/), a private nonprofit institution in San Francisco, reports [median earnings of $55,286](/school/university-of-san-francisco/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates two years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (25 graduates) |
| 18 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $52,107 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
|  | Graduating 84% of its students within six years, [University of San Diego](/school/university-of-san-diego/majors/) reports an [average net price of $15,586](/school/university-of-san-diego/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation (17 graduates) |
| 19 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | No published median | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
|  | Admitting 95% of applicants, [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/majors/) ranks 19th on this page and reports an [average net price of $15,489](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/cost/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (63 graduates), Environmental Design (12 graduates) |
| 20 | Washington State University · Pullman, WA | No published median | $14,971 | $7,074 | 86.6% |
|  | [Washington State University](/school/washington-state-university/majors/) reports a [six-year completion rate of 60%](/school/washington-state-university/outcomes/) and an average net price of $7,074 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (50 graduates) |
| 21 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus · Denver, CO | No published median | $11,900 | $6,743 | 74.7% |
|  | [University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus](/school/university-of-colorado-denveranschutz-medical-campus/majors/) [ranks 130th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-colorado-denveranschutz-medical-campus/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $11,900. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (98 graduates) |
| 22 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | No published median | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 65%](/school/university-of-utah/outcomes/), [University of Utah](/school/university-of-utah/majors/) admits 86% of applicants. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (38 graduates) |
| 23 | Woodbury University · Burbank, CA | No published median | $33,692 | $28,815 | 81.7% |
|  | A private nonprofit institution in Burbank, [Woodbury University](/school/woodbury-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $28,815](/school/woodbury-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architectural Sciences and Technology (67 graduates), Interior Architecture (9 graduates) |
| 24 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $31,305 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) reports [median earnings of $31,305](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates two years after completing and admits 9% of applicants. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Architecture (34 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 West appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 3 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 11 schools with a published figure. The spread from top to bottom is $54,029, with the highest published median of $85,334 at University of Washington-Seattle Campus and the lowest of $31,305.

## Related rankings

-   Architecture Colleges
-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   [Best Architecture Colleges in the Northeast](/rankings/best-architecture-colleges-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Architecture Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-architecture-colleges-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Architecture Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-architecture-colleges-in-the-south/)
-   Architecture Colleges in the West for Social Mobility