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Architecture/Urban Planning

Instructional programs that prepare individuals for professional practice in the various architecture-related fields and focus on the study of related aesthetic and socioeconomic aspects of the built environment.

Types of Degrees Architecture/Urban Planning Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Architecture/Urban Planning may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	130
Associate’s Degree	804
Bachelor’s Degree	10,470
Master’s Degree	8,509
Doctor’s Degree	247

What Architecture/Urban Planning Majors Need to Know

Programs in Architecture/Urban Planning develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Architecture/Urban Planning graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Architecture/Urban Planning emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Design — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Building and Construction — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Architecture/Urban Planning program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Architecture/Urban Planning careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Architecture/Urban Planning graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.5 / 7
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Communicating with People Outside the Organization	4.1 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Architecture/Urban Planning professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Adobe Illustrator	Graphics or photo imaging software	✓
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Autodesk Revit	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	✓
Adobe Acrobat	Document management software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Architecture/Urban Planning graduates include:

• Lecturer
• University Faculty Member
• Professor
• Architecture Faculty Member
• Landscape Architecture Teacher
• College Faculty Member
• Architecture Professor
• Architectural Design Professor
• College Professor
• Interior Design Professor
• Architectural Drafting Instructor
• Architecture Instructor
• Faculty Member
• Adjunct Professor
• Adjunct Instructor

What Can You Do With a Architecture/Urban Planning Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Architecture/Urban Planning commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Real Estate Brokers	5.1%	$36,148	$29,844–$42,452
Real Estate Sales Agents	-3.0%	$44,773	$36,622–$52,924

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Architecture/Urban Planning graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	33.9%
Doctoral degree	18.2%
Master’s degree	15.8%
First professional degree	12.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	7.0%
High school diploma or equivalent	3.8%
Postsecondary certificate	2.6%
Some college courses	2.5%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	2.0%
Post-master’s certificate	1.1%
Less than a high school diploma	0.8%
Post-doctoral training	0.3%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Architecture/Urban Planning?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 52.8% women and 47.2% men among Architecture/Urban Planning graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	10,654	52.8%
Men	9,508	47.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Architecture/Urban Planning graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	9,129	45.3%
Asian	1,606	8.0%
Hispanic or Latino	3,815	18.9%
Black or African American	1,098	5.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native	59	0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	21	0.1%
Two or More Races	705	3.5%
Race Unknown	465	2.3%
International Students	3,264	16.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Architecture/Urban Planning Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Architecture/Urban Planning graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$53,191
4 years	$64,117
5 years	$72,009

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $72,009 — roughly 35% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Architecture/Urban Planning Programs

Online study is reported by IPEDS for Architecture/Urban Planning. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	7	5
Bachelor’s	3	7
Master’s	17	16

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Architecture/Urban Planning Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Architecture/Urban Planning graduates earn a median of $64,117 four years after completion — roughly 69% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.