Selecting a School/Program

Most schools are excellent in their chosen areas of emphasis, but no school is excellent in all aspects of what you want or need to learn. Because of the diverse nature of architecture programs and the varied interests, aptitudes, and objectives of students, it is challenging to objectively rank architecture schools.

Probably the most important factor in any educational endeavor is your level of motivation. Most architectural employers are far more interested in what you have accomplished and can do as a person than in the “prestige” of your degree. While you should seek as much information and as many opinions as possible, with a conscientious effort you will probably be in as good a position as anyone to make decisions regarding your own education and career.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) offers ARCHSchools.org, an online database of all institutions that offer architecture programs in the United States and Canada. This free service allows you to search by region, curriculum, size of school and more.

The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
has an extensive list of questions you may wish to consider about a school.