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Best Undergraduate Architecture Schools

If you are into architecture, chances are, you are one of the most creative, talented people on the planet. The new trend of architecture should be comfortable with digital natives and all types, uses, and expressions of information and design technology. Thousands of architecture colleges offer fantastic programs, but how do you find out the best architecture school? Which path is the right way to go for a changing and design education? Don’t worry; you have come to the right place for your answers. This article has enlisted the top 10 undergraduate architecture schools that will fetch you a successful career.

Right from  Architecture Education, Research, and Professional Practice, everything is beautiful about this program. So if you have won your first step to success by choosing this as your professional career, so without further adieu, let us dive into it!

1. Cornell University

Cornell University is considered to be one of the finest ivy leagues in the US. In fact, the architecture program offered here is the oldest in the country, which will be highly beneficial if you go there. They have an extensive network of alumni who are top in the architecture industry.

The highlight of this university is its alumni group. Some of them are  Richard Meier, who designed the Getty Center in Los Angeles, and Peter Eisenman, who founded the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York City. So this university is highly recommended.

Founded In: 1865
Tuition: $76,258 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1450
ACT Avg: 34
Acceptance Rate: 11%
GPA: 3.9
Rank: #1 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 607-254-4636
Financial Aid: Below are some of the best funding programs
Cornell University Grant- Educational Fund

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2. Rice University

Rice University, located in Houston, offers the best architecture program. It is a six-year undergraduate program that will help you fetch a great career. The student-faculty ratio at this top-rated university is 5:1, which is the correct balanced ratio an architecture program can ever have.

The highlight of this university is they closely work with different companies and have partnerships to give students a practical approach towards learning. They get internship opportunities in business, engineering, and environmental science fields.

Founded In: 1880
Tuition: $67,102 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1350
ACT Avg: 31
Acceptance Rate: 9%
GPA: 3.9
Rank: #2 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 713-348-0000
Financial Aid: For detailed information please visit here

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3. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

When the question of having the best infrastructure for an architecture program is raised, hands down, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is the best option. Its architecture department is the biggest in the United States, and it is challenging to get into this top-rated university. I would highly recommend this place.

Fun fact, one in 20 architects in the US (and one in five in California) graduated from Cal Poly, which means there are tons of alumni connections to be had. So as the school’s alumni are pretty strong, students get ample opportunities once they graduate after studying in this top-notch university.

Founded In: 1898
Tuition: $28,927 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1390
ACT Avg: 31
Acceptance Rate: 28%
GPA: 3.9
Rank: #3 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 805-756-1111
Financial Aid: For detailed information please visit here

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4. Syracuse University

If you want to do your degree in New York, Syracuse University is the best choice for the architecture program. Due to its exemplary reputation, the school has numerous affiliations with top-rated architects in the market who will give constant mentorship to the students of this university.

Syracuse’s centers in Florence or London have great architecture programs. The university offers student abroad programs to explore the other world’s architectural styles. These student abroad programs give a comprehensive perspective on how this system works.

Founded In: 1901
Tuition: $73,069 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1450
ACT Avg: 29
Acceptance Rate: 44%
GPA: 3.3
Rank: #4 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 315-443-1870
Financial Aid: For detailed information please visit here

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5. University of Notre Dame

If you are looking for an architecture program that will stick to classical architecture and balance urbanism, I would highly recommend the University of Notre Dame. The classic architecture is always considered a beautiful and powerful way to learn the nuances of the subject.

It is also interesting to note that Notre Dame is the only insulation that has made it compulsory for the students to study in this university to spend their student abroad program in a different country. Which student ensures all students have a more global understanding of architecture.

Founded In: 1842
Tuition: $74,193 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1399
ACT Avg: 33
Acceptance Rate: 16%
GPA: 3.8
Rank: #5 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 574-631-5000
Financial Aid: Below are some of the best funding programs,
Notre Dame Scholarships- Educational fund

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6. Virginia Tech

Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, Virginia Tech is a first-class institution that offers the best architecture program. The highlight of this program is they have the best faculty team who are industry experts in the field. They have a unique way of making the fifth year of study dedicated to Independent design investigation.

Another highlight of this Place is you can do your degree anywhere you want. The school’s main campus is in Blacksburg, Virginia, and it also has additional campuses in Alexandria, Virginia, and Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. So they have great student abroad programs at their different campuses too.

Founded In: 1890
Tuition: $27,283 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1390
ACT Avg: 33
Acceptance Rate: 70%
GPA: 3.9
Rank: #6 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 540-231-6000
Financial Aid: For detailed information please click here

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7. Rhode Island School of Design

Particularly established as a design school, Rhode Island School of Design is a fantastic place for your arch. Degree. The school has the most outstanding infrastructure, and moreover, it consists of all the first-class gears and technology to learn the new generation architecture training.

The highlight of the program is they combine a visual and humanities-based education through their rigorous curriculum. They give a holistic approach to learning the nuances of architecture. The school has the best faculty team where you can create a mentor-mentee relationship.

Founded In: 1877
Tuition: $72,780 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1350
ACT Avg: 32
Acceptance Rate: 26%
GPA: 3.8
Rank: #7 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 401-454-6100
Financial Aid: The Institute do not offer scholarships currently

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8. Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute is yet another top-rated university that offers architecture programs in Brooklyn, NY. The highlight of this institution is its campus life. There is a great diversity in the school where you can get a wide experience until you complete your undergraduate degree.

The reason why this institute has made it to the list is because of its  Morphology concentration. It involves the study of form through a combination of mathematics, computation, fabrication, construction, and emerging technologies which makes it pretty exciting for the students.

Founded In: 1887
Tuition: $70,368 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1360
ACT Avg: 33
Acceptance Rate: 56%
GPA: 3.8
Rank: #1 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 718-636-3600
Financial Aid: The Institute do not offer scholarships currently

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9. University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a fine university that is very popular for its first-class educational facilities. Their architecture and design department is top class and has the best faculty and infrastructure to become a top-class architecture in the near future.

They have a Center for Sustainable Development where students will get a chance to learn and research about building more environmentally friendly designs and buildings. There are also libraries, archives, conservation labs, and research spaces on campus for architecture students to use.

Founded In: 1929
Tuition: $27,728 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1399
ACT Avg: 28
Acceptance Rate: 32%
GPA: 3.77
Rank: #9 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 512-471-3434
Financial Aid: For detailed information please visit here

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10. University of Southern California

Located in Los Angeles, the University of Southern California is a first-class place where you can do your arch. Degree. The whole arch department is 50,000 square feet which makes it the largest and most beautiful place to do your degree.

Every architecture student at USC also has 24/7 access to their own personal workstation where they can work and use all the resources for their projects. The school gives a complete hands-on approach to teaching the nuances of the subjects. The alumni are very strong. Boris Dramov is one of them who designed the great Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

Founded In: 1880
Tuition: $77,459 (before aid)
SAT Avg: 1345
ACT Avg: 33
Acceptance Rate: 11%
GPA: 3.77
Rank: #10 of Best Architecture Schools in the US
Contact: +1 213-740-2311
Financial Aid: For detailed information please visit here

Apply for Admission

Indu Singh

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