Landscape Architecture
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Types of Degrees Landscape Architecture Majors Are Earning
People majoring in Landscape Architecture have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.
| Award Level | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Certificate | 24 |
| Associate’s Degree | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 662 |
| Master’s Degree | 346 |
What Landscape Architecture Majors Need to Know
Studies in Landscape Architecture develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Landscape Architecture graduates commonly enter.
Knowledge Areas
Coursework in Landscape Architecture emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
- English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
- Design — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
- Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
- Building and Construction — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
- Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*
Skills
Skills emphasized by a Landscape Architecture program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
- Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
- Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
- Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
- Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
- Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
Abilities
Innate abilities most relevant to Landscape Architecture careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:
- Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
- Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
- Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
- Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
- Written Expression — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
Common Job Activities
Day-to-day, Landscape Architecture graduates report doing:
| Activity | Frequency / Importance |
|---|---|
| Working with Computers | 4.5 / 7 |
| Getting Information | 4.5 / 7 |
| Making Decisions and Solving Problems | 4.4 / 7 |
| Thinking Creatively | 4.3 / 7 |
| Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | 4.2 / 7 |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | 4.2 / 7 |
| Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work | 4.1 / 7 |
| Communicating with People Outside the Organization | 4.0 / 7 |
| Processing Information | 4.0 / 7 |
| Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events | 4.0 / 7 |
Technology Skills Used on the Job
Most frequently-cited tools used by Landscape Architecture professionals:
| Tool / Software | Category | In-Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | ✓ |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | ✓ |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | — |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | ✓ |
| Web browser software | Internet browser software | — |
| Adobe Illustrator | Graphics or photo imaging software | ✓ |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | — |
| Computer aided design CAD software | Computer aided design CAD software | — |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | ✓ |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | ✓ |
| Autodesk Revit | Computer aided design CAD software | ✓ |
| Microsoft Project | Project management software | — |
Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*
Sample Job Titles
Real job postings for Landscape Architecture graduates include:
- Lecturer
- Interior Design Faculty Member
- Professor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Instructor
- Architecture Instructor
- University Faculty Member
- Landscape Architecture Professor
- Interior Design Instructor
- Architectural Design Professor
- Architecture Faculty Member
- College Professor
- Architecture Professor
- Architectural Drafting Instructor
- Assistant Professor
Education Typically Required
Across the occupations open to Landscape Architecture graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:
| Education Level | Share of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.7% |
| Master’s degree | 18.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.6% |
| First professional degree | 9.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.4% |
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Who Is Earning a Degree in Landscape Architecture?
Gender Distribution
This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 58.9% women and 41.1% men among Landscape Architecture graduates.
| Gender | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 618 | 58.9% |
| Men | 432 | 41.1% |
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Landscape Architecture graduates is as follows:
| Race / Ethnicity | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 580 | 55.2% |
| Asian | 69 | 6.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 175 | 16.7% |
| Black or African American | 27 | 2.6% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 3 | 0.3% |
| Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.1% |
| Two or More Races | 52 | 5.0% |
| Race Unknown | 25 | 2.4% |
| International Students | 118 | 11.2% |
See minority definition below.
How Much Do Landscape Architecture Graduates Earn?
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Landscape Architecture graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $52,824 |
| 4 years | $61,820 |
| 5 years | $67,981 |
By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $67,981 — roughly 29% above the 1-year mark.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Online Landscape Architecture Programs
Distance learning is reported by IPEDS for Landscape Architecture. 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 | 1 | 0 |
| Bachelor’s | 1 | 1 |
| Master’s | 1 | 1 |
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 Landscape Architecture Worth It?
On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Landscape Architecture graduates earn a median of $61,820 four years after completion — roughly 63% 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.
Related Programs
You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:
| Program | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Architecture and Related Services | 20,162 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 9,814 |
| Architecture | 4,594 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 2,362 |
| Interior Architecture | 756 |
| Environmental Design | 714 |
| Real Estate Development | 555 |
| Architecture and Related Services, Other | 166 |
| Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation | 151 |
| ARCHITECTURE AND RELATED SERVICES | — |
Explore Landscape Architecture by State
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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.