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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Architecture & Related Services in California

11 Ranked Colleges
1,128 Degrees Awarded
$26,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor's in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 17,480 people earned their degree in architecture and related services, making the major the 28th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, architecture and related services graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,294 and had an average of $39,729 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 2,416 architecture and related services graduates with average earnings and debt of $52,979 and $51,309 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,128 architecture and related services graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree in architecture and related services. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality architecture and related services programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the architecture and related services program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

The architecture & related services school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #1 spot on the list. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 200 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $21,595 for California Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students per year to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school awarded 183 degrees to qualified bachelors’s architecture and related services students in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly Pomona also took the #5 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,734 for California Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students per year to attend Cal Poly Pomona.

The low student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 142 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Berkeley is $15,329 for california bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UC Berkeley Architecture & Related Services Report

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Davis landed the #4 spot on the list. University of California - Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Davis is $14,669 for california bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UC Davis Architecture & Related Services Report

#5

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students list, UCLA has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $14,279 for california bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at University of California - Los Angeles

#7 in overall quality

Newschool of Architecture and Design came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to 56 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Newschool of Architecture and Design, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Newschool of Architecture and Design is $37,409 for california bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Newschool of Architecture and Design

#7

Woodbury University

Burbank, California
#10 in overall quality

Woodbury University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Burbank, California, and it awarded 84 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

Woodbury also took the #10 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $23,915 for California Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students per year to attend Woodbury.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at Woodbury University

#8

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California
#11 in overall quality

Art Center College of Design did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #8. Art Center College of Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Art Center College of Design not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Art Center College of Design is $47,080 for california bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Art Center College of Design

#9

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#4 in overall quality

University of San Francisco ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

USFCA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of San Francisco is $36,424 for california bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at University of San Francisco

#10

California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

California College of the Arts ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. California College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

California College of the Arts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California College of the Arts is $33,876 for California Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at California College of the Arts

#11

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

University of Southern California landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 206 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $29,528 for california bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students per year to attend USC.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at University of Southern California

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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