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# Best Architecture Programs in the Midwest (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Architecture Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-architecture-colleges-in-the-midwest/)

Regional list from [Best Architecture Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-architecture-programs/)

This page ranks the 14 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 at $82,983, followed by [Drury University](/school/drury-university/majors/) at $70,134.

Across the listed schools, the median earnings figure is $63,475, with a spread of $49,702 from the top to the bottom of the list.

Public institutions account for 11 of the 14 programs, alongside 3 private nonprofits. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Illinois Chicago posts the lowest average net price at $10,974.

## The ranked list

14 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program 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/) ranks 1st on this list with [median earnings of $82,983](/school/university-of-notre-dame/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, and it carries a median federal debt of $28,419 among Architecture completers who borrowed. |
| 2 | Drury University · Springfield, MO | $70,134 | $20,831 | $18,759 | 57.6% |
|  | [Drury University](/school/drury-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Springfield, reports an [admission rate of 58%](/school/drury-university/admissions/) and median earnings of $70,134 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | $66,131 | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
|  | [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/majors/) posts [median earnings of $66,131](/school/ohio-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,339. |
| 4 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH | $65,449 | $25,648 | $17,974 | 85.3% |
|  | [University of Cincinnati-Main Campus](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/majors/) ranks 4th on this list and its Architecture graduates four years after completing report [median earnings of $65,449](/school/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus/outcomes/). |
| 5 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | $65,148 | $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 its Architecture graduates four years after completing earn a median of $65,148. |
| 6 | 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 its Architecture graduates four years after completing earn a median of $65,015. |
| 7 | Judson University · Elgin, IL | $63,846 | $18,558 | $15,701 | 47.6% |
|  | Judson University reports median earnings of $63,846 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $26,442 among Architecture completers who borrowed. |
| 8 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $63,104 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
|  | [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/) carries an [average net price of $13,297](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/cost/) and its Architecture graduates four years after completing earn a median of $63,104. |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI | $62,803 | $15,014 | $10,329 | 90.7% |
|  | [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/majors/) ranks 9th on this list, with [median earnings of $62,803](/school/university-of-wisconsin-milwaukee/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates four years after completing. |
| 10 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $62,700 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
|  | An [admission rate of 87%](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/admissions/) and median earnings of $62,700 for its Architecture graduates four years after completing are reported by [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](/school/university-of-nebraska-lincoln/majors/). |
| 11 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN | $62,246 | $16,778 | $6,642 | 79.8% |
|  | [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/majors/) posts [median earnings of $62,246](/school/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, alongside a median federal debt of $20,412 among Architecture completers who borrowed. |
| 12 | 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/) carries an [average net price of $20,787](/school/kent-state-university-at-kent/cost/) and its Architecture graduates four years after completing earn a median of $59,299. |
| 13 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $56,975 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
|  | [University of Illinois Chicago](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/majors/), a public university in Chicago, reports [median earnings of $56,975](/school/university-of-illinois-chicago/outcomes/) for its Architecture graduates four years after completing, with 56 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 14 | Ball State University · Muncie, IN | $33,281 | $14,940 | $7,834 | 85.5% |
|  | [Ball State University](/school/ball-state-university/majors/) [admits 86% of applicants](/school/ball-state-university/admissions/) and carries an average net price of $14,940, while its Architecture graduates earned a median of $33,281 four years after completing. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Architecture graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 14 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 spread from top to bottom is $49,702, with University of Notre Dame at $82,983 and the lowest listed program at $33,281.

## Related rankings

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