Top Architecture Programs

<p>Can someone please steer me to a ranking of top architecture programs? I am trying to advise a friend's d. She has great scores and EC so I am encouraging her to apply to the best schools.</p>

<p>I know VT and UVA are both considered good programs in Va. Don't know much about other states</p>

<p>They are actually hard to find. It's especially hard to find ones that aren't only research based.</p>

<p>Most people would probably agree:
1. Cornell
2. U of Cincinnati
3. Rice</p>

<p>Columbia is up there too</p>

<p>heres a research based one...</p>

<p><a href="http://www.archsoc.com/kcas/researchschool4.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.archsoc.com/kcas/researchschool4.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>any school with a score of three or less. They may be the best teaching schools in the world, they may be producing the most sought-after architectural employees: but they are not the planet's intellectual leaders.</p>

<p>School Research Intensity</p>

<p>Princeton University 25
Columbia University 25
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, The* 22
Yale University 20
University of California, Los Angeles 18
Harvard University 17
University of Pennsylvania 17
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 14
Rice University 10
University of Notre Dame 10
Arizona State University 8
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 8
University of California, Berkeley 8
University of Maryland 8
New Jersey Institute of Technology 8
University at Buffalo, SUNY 7
University of Texas at Austin 7
University of Virginia 6
University of Michigan 6
University of Minnesota 6
Southern California Institute of Architecture* 6
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee 6
Northeastern University 5
University of Washington 5
Georgia Institute of Technology 5
University of Illinois at Chicago 5
Cornell University 5
Rhode Island School of Design* 5
University of New Mexico 5
City College of New York, CUNY 5
University of Kansas 5
Pratt Institute 4
University of Cincinnati 4
University of Miami 4
University of Oregon 4
University of Southern California 4
University of Florida 4
Woodbury University 4
Washington University in St Louis 4
Miami University 4
Syracuse University 4
Texas A&M University 4
University of Texas at Arlington 3
Kansas State University 3
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 3
Ohio State University 3
University of Houston 3
Texas Tech University 3
Roger Williams University 3
North Carolina State University 3
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 2
Louisiana State University 2
California College of the Arts 2
Carnegie Mellon University 2
University of Massachusetts Amherst 2
Iowa State University 2
Norwich University 2
University of Utah 2
University of Texas at San Antonio 2
Ball State University 2
Clemson University 2
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 2
Florida International University 2
Kent State University 2
Illinois Institute of Technology 2
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 2
Catholic University of America 2
Drexel University 2
Morgan State University 2
New York Institute of Technology 2
University of Hawaii at Manoa 2
University of Kentucky 2
University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2
Florida A&M University 1
Pennsylvania State University 1
University of Arizona 1
Montana State University 1
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 1
Lawrence Technological University 1
Oklahoma State University 1
Auburn University 1
Florida Atlantic University 1
University of Arkansas 1
Washington State University 1
Boston Architectural Center* <1
Temple University <1
Judson College <1
Mississippi State University <1
University of Hartford <1
Wentworth Institute of Technology <1
University of Louisiana at Lafayette <1
University of Detroit Mercy <1
University of Idaho <1
North Dakota State university <1
Hampton University <1
Philadelphia University <1
Prairie View A&M University <1
Southern University and A&M College <1
University of Oklahoma <1
Andrews University <1
Louisiana Tech University <1
Howard University <1
NewSchool of Design* <1</p>

<p>that's list of research schools is only useful for people who aspire to be research professors in the arch. field. It won't do anything for a high schooler since most of theose schools only have graduate level programs. </p>

<p>For undergraduate architecture programs, the top schools are</p>

<ol>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>Rice</li>
<li>Cincinnati
with honorable mentions going to Notre Dame, Syracuse, Pratt, CMU, and a few others that slip my mind at the moment</li>
</ol>

<p>Exactly, I tried to warn about the research ranking, but someone brought it up anyway haha</p>

<p>I know Texas Tech is very industry driven. <a href="http://www.arch.ttu.edu/default.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.arch.ttu.edu/default.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The U of Illinois in Champaign insists on students becoming solid in the foundations. They also have what is considered the strongest study abroad program in architecture - junior year at the Versailles.</p>

<p>Cornell's junior year is in Rome</p>

<p>Some schools offer a B.S. in Architecture. This is a 4 year degree that does not lead to a license. The B. Arch degree takes 5 years and you will be eligible to sit for the exam after completing an apprenticeship. </p>

<p>Your friend's daughter really should sit with a college counselor to sort out her plans & define her goals. The wrong program can send her down a path that doesn't meet her needs at all. I know that the BArch is very specific in the course requirements. Not a lot of choice in electives and virtually no way to double up on studio courses and complete the degree in 5 years if the precise path isn't followed. I was in a BArch program 30 years ago & had to apply to the professional program with a portfolio before entering junior year.</p>

<p>My friend's at Sci-Arc and loving it...</p>

<p>thanks everyone for the helpful replies. Now I just have to get her motivated.</p>

<p>It was mentioned briefly above but it is very important to decide whether you want to go the professional route of the 5 year B. Arch program or get an undergraduate degree and get a M. Arch in 2 or 3 additional years. As said above, the 5 year program has very little latitude in it and it is very intense. You have to be very dedicated from day one to handle this. If not, then get an undergraduate degree and figure out if architecture is what you want. </p>

<p>As an older architect who went through a 5 year program, I would recommend the 4/2 route. It is not a lucrative profession and many kids realize this in the first five yaers out of school and move on to different or allied professions. A good liberal arts undergraduate education will prepare you better for any career changes in your life.</p>

<p>^^^</p>

<p>true, though at least at Cornell students can switch out into the arts and sciences school with just a snap of their fingers.</p>

<p>as far as architecture programs go, go to <a href="http://www.naab.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.naab.com&lt;/a> (.org or .net) and look at what programs are accredited at what level - bachelor's. master's. There are programs that are five years and those that are 6 years in length. Do you want a very traditional vs. nontraditional teaching style? What kind of financial aid package can they give you? Is the school's financial aid program merit-based, need-based, or need-blind based? If the college is out-of-state, find out the percentage of in-state vs-out-of-state students admitted. This can greatly affect who the scholarships will go to first. We have toured UVA, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Clemson, and U of Miami. We will be touring other colleges soon. These colleges all have Architecture, but very different programs, campus feel, small town vs. big city. Finally, for anyone reading this, please consider applying for scholarships via different websites and not just those through the college. good luck!</p>

<p>Hi - our daughter is trying to decide which of several colleges to attend for architecture for undergraduate studies. I also posted this on archnet - not sure if it’s a different site.</p>

<p>We live in NJ. She has been accepted into:
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Virginia Tech
LSU</p>

<p>LSU will ultimately cost $100,000 less than the other schools (due to scholarships awarded).</p>

<p>Any opinions on quality of education at these schools and future prospects when coming out of these schools would be appreciated. How important is the name in finding a job?</p>

<p>The deadline is fast approaching so please HELP!</p>

<p>Does anyone have a feel for KState. I have a Jr in highschool looking for a good architect program. I read one report ranking Kstate fairly high and they are still in budget. Are they worth out of state tuition. We live in MN and could also consider UofM but haven’t heard much about their programs. Any thoughts?</p>

<p>cathir and FreyMom, I wish I could share more specific information about the schools you are both looking at. My son goes to VT and loves the program but he is in Landscape Architecture, not regular arch. However, the whole College of Architecture and Urban Studies there is amazing.</p>

<p>When he was first undecided about going into a design/arch field he did look (briefly) at LSU and KState’s regular arch curriculums and programs. He/we thought they were very solid. Terrific landscape arch programs, which like VT are ranked very high nationally on a consitent basis. I would think their regular arch programs are just as great. FreyMom, I think I read that the University of Minnesota was recently rated a “Hidden Gem” in architecture, but I can’t remember where I saw that. It would be worth looking into. You may know this already, but KState has a 5 yr Master’s of Architecture program that is different from the regular 5 yr. B. Arch. I don’t know if Minnesota offers this, but it is kind of unique. (VT has the 5 yr BARCH) Here is the link from KState’s website with info:</p>

<p>[Academic</a> Programs | Department of Architecture](<a href=“http://www.capd.ksu.edu/arch/academic-programs]Academic”>http://www.capd.ksu.edu/arch/academic-programs)</p>

<p>cathir, If your daugher is receiving such a great merit award (congratulations!) to LSU, I don’t think she could wrong. I may be mistaken, and hopefully some of the more educated Arch folks will chime in…rick12 are you out there? …but I don’t think her other options would be that much of a step up in terms of the quality of the program to turn down the money she would receive. </p>

<p>Hope some of this helps! Good luck to you both!</p>

<p>I need some help…</p>

<p>I got into both Roger Williams and Syracuse, however, I got into Architecture at RWU and Engineering at Syracuse. I know Syracuse’s Architecture program is intense, and I was talking to the Dean of Admissions there of my problem, and she said that the chances that I could transfer from Engineering to Architecture my second year is 0-1 because their SOA is not lenient to internal school transfers.</p>

<p>So is it better to go for Roger Williams University for my freshmen year and then re-applying to Syracuse’s SOA or would it be a waste of time? I know that at Roger Williams, you can get your masters in 6-7 years and at Syracuse you can get it in 5, if in both cases, you start your freshmen year in their Architecture program. If I transfer, it would basically mean 6 years for Architecture so it kinda defeats the purpose, but I kinda want to know if their program is that much better than Roger Williams. I heard a ton of kids say that to have Syracuse on their resume really helped them with internship, and vise versa.</p>

<p>Basically I’m confused if I should still pursue Syracuse or if I should just settle for Roger Williams… any ideas??</p>

<p>vapham, I think you have to ask yourself if you went to Syracuse and never got into Arch there, would you be satisfied to stay in Engineering. Otherwise, if you have a opportunity to start Arch at RWU and you feel it is a better career path for you, go there. After you are there a year, if you still want to reapply to Syracuse then do so or you might find you are happy at RWU and you then will end up with a Masters in less than 6 years.</p>

<p>Someone else posted a similar scenerio for their daughter who got in to VT but not in Arch and got in somewhere else in Arch. My advise was the same. VT is also very hard to transfer into in house.</p>