Architecture: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 51 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$73,496 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$73,496Median year-4 earnings
$19,858Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Architecture
How much do Architecture master's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $73,496 four years after completion across reportable master's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Architecture?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $69,700 to $78,226 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Architecture?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 4 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$73,496Median reported earnings · year 4
$72,761Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
44thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
2IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
51With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $36,438
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,399
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 82
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,496
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 51
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,290
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$69,700National median$73,49675th percentile$78,226
51 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$83,817Observed year-4 earnings$63,941
University of Florida$6,541 price · $88,820 earningsVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$24,953 price · $84,023 earningsUniversity of Utah$16,200 price · $83,978 earningsBoston Architectural College$25,865 price · $83,817 earningsCornell University$28,690 price · $83,284 earningsOhio State University-Main Campus$17,339 price · $82,952 earningsUniversity of Notre Dame$26,780 price · $82,270 earningsCalifornia Baptist University$26,285 price · $81,768 earningsUniversity of Houston$14,276 price · $80,510 earningsThe University of Texas at Austin$19,857 price · $79,350 earningsTexas A&M University-College Station$21,315 price · $78,997 earningsUniversity of California, Los Angeles$12,548 price · $78,757 earningsSouthern California Institute of Architecture$43,923 price · $78,626 earningsUniversity of Maryland-College Park$15,678 price · $78,226 earningsSouthern Illinois University-Carbondale$13,297 price · $78,062 earningsUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus$14,091 price · $77,526 earningsClemson University$22,253 price · $76,905 earningsUniversity of Hartford$30,282 price · $76,853 earningsUniversity of Cincinnati-Main Campus$25,648 price · $76,450 earningsRoger Williams University$37,999 price · $75,242 earningsTexas Tech University$19,070 price · $74,979 earningsUniversity of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus$11,900 price · $74,820 earningsSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago$49,790 price · $74,629 earningsThe University of Texas at Arlington$13,951 price · $74,622 earningsWentworth Institute of Technology$34,170 price · $74,049 earningsFlorida Agricultural and Mechanical University$13,739 price · $73,496 earningsTulane University of Louisiana$39,949 price · $72,973 earningsUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities$16,778 price · $72,487 earningsKent State University at Kent$20,787 price · $71,894 earningsMontana State University$22,499 price · $71,784 earningsUniversity of Oregon$22,182 price · $71,724 earningsNorwich University$22,257 price · $71,564 earningsUniversity of Kansas$18,059 price · $71,293 earningsUniversity of Detroit Mercy$15,232 price · $71,282 earningsPortland State University$9,552 price · $71,002 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee$15,014 price · $70,937 earningsUniversity of South Florida$9,812 price · $70,924 earningsUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte$15,435 price · $70,585 earningsUniversity of Kentucky$18,851 price · $69,700 earningsFlorida International University$9,288 price · $68,932 earningsNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh$17,303 price · $68,840 earningsJudson University$18,558 price · $68,365 earningsUniversity of Illinois Chicago$10,974 price · $67,711 earningsUniversity at Buffalo$20,995 price · $66,761 earningsThe University of Texas at San Antonio$10,836 price · $66,397 earningsNorth Dakota State University-Main Campus$15,543 price · $66,004 earningsPrairie View A&M University$13,570 price · $65,641 earningsHampton University$25,319 price · $64,180 earningsUniversity of Idaho$14,831 price · $63,941 earningsUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette$13,530 price · $62,384 earningsUniversity of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras$9,175 price · $44,338 earnings
$9,288Annual college-wide average net price$37,999
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
51 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Florida$88,8202Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$84,0233University of Utah$83,9784Boston Architectural College$83,8175Cornell University$83,2846Ohio State University-Main Campus$82,9527University of Notre Dame$82,2708California Baptist University$81,7689University of Houston$80,51010The University of Texas at Austin$79,350Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary$96,870 median wage7,700 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1031+2.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$58,430–$159,030 10th–90th percentileArchitectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 median wage220,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9041+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$120,810–$262,760 10th–90th percentileArchitects, Except Landscape and Naval$99,280 median wage106,770 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-1011+4.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$62,300–$161,420 10th–90th percentileNO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of FloridaMaster's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $88,820 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $6,541 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityMaster's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $84,023 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $24,953 |
| 3 | University of UtahMaster's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $83,978 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,200 |
| 4 | Boston Architectural CollegeMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $83,817 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $25,865 |
| 5 | Cornell UniversityMaster's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $83,284 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $28,690 |
| 6 | Ohio State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Columbus, OH | $82,952 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,339 |
| 7 | University of Notre DameMaster's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $82,270 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $26,780 |
| 8 | California Baptist UniversityMaster's Degree | Riverside, CA | $81,768 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $26,285 |
| 9 | University of HoustonMaster's Degree | Houston, TX | $80,510 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,276 |
| 10 | The University of Texas at AustinMaster's Degree | Austin, TX | $79,350 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $19,857 |
| 11 | Texas A&M University-College StationMaster's Degree | College Station, TX | $78,997 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $21,315 |
| 12 | University of California, Los AngelesMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $78,757 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $12,548 |
| 13 | Southern California Institute of ArchitectureMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $78,626 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $43,923 |
| 14 | University of Maryland-College ParkMaster's Degree | College Park, MD | $78,226 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,678 |
| 15 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleMaster's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $78,062 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,297 |
| 16 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusMaster's Degree | Seattle, WA | $77,526 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,091 |
| 17 | Clemson UniversityMaster's Degree | Clemson, SC | $76,905 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,253 |
| 18 | University of HartfordMaster's Degree | West Hartford, CT | $76,853 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $30,282 |
| 19 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $76,450 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $25,648 |
| 20 | Roger Williams UniversityMaster's Degree | Bristol, RI | $75,242 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $37,999 |
| 21 | Texas Tech UniversityMaster's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $74,979 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $19,070 |
| 22 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $74,820 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $11,900 |
| 23 | School of the Art Institute of ChicagoMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $74,629 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $49,790 |
| 24 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonMaster's Degree | Arlington, TX | $74,622 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,951 |
| 25 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $74,049 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $34,170 |
| 26 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityMaster's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $73,496 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,739 |
| 27 | Tulane University of LouisianaMaster's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $72,973 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $39,949 |
| 28 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMaster's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $72,487 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,778 |
| 29 | Kent State University at KentMaster's Degree | Kent, OH | $71,894 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $20,787 |
| 30 | Montana State UniversityMaster's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $71,784 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,499 |
| 31 | University of OregonMaster's Degree | Eugene, OR | $71,724 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,182 |
| 32 | Norwich UniversityMaster's Degree | Northfield, VT | $71,564 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,257 |
| 33 | University of KansasMaster's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $71,293 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $18,059 |
| 34 | University of Detroit MercyMaster's Degree | Detroit, MI | $71,282 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,232 |
| 35 | Portland State UniversityMaster's Degree | Portland, OR | $71,002 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $9,552 |
| 36 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMaster's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $70,937 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,014 |
| 37 | University of South FloridaMaster's Degree | Tampa, FL | $70,924 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $9,812 |
| 38 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteMaster's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $70,585 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,435 |
| 39 | University of KentuckyMaster's Degree | Lexington, KY | $69,700 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $18,851 |
| 40 | Florida International UniversityMaster's Degree | Miami, FL | $68,932 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $9,288 |
| 41 | North Carolina State University at RaleighMaster's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $68,840 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,303 |
| 42 | Judson UniversityMaster's Degree | Elgin, IL | $68,365 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $18,558 |
| 43 | University of Illinois ChicagoMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $67,711 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,974 |
| 44 | University at BuffaloMaster's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $66,761 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $20,995 |
| 45 | The University of Texas at San AntonioMaster's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $66,397 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,836 |
| 46 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Fargo, ND | $66,004 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,543 |
| 47 | Prairie View A&M UniversityMaster's Degree | Prairie View, TX | $65,641 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,570 |
| 48 | Hampton UniversityMaster's Degree | Hampton, VA | $64,180 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $25,319 |
| 49 | University of IdahoMaster's Degree | Moscow, ID | $63,941 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,831 |
| 50 | University of Louisiana at LafayetteMaster's Degree | Lafayette, LA | $62,384 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,530 |
| 51 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasMaster's Degree | San Juan, PR | $44,338 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $9,175 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.