Degree Dividend
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Best colleges for Architecture in California

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Program-level earnings — not school prestige — rank these. Among the California programs in the federal field-of-study file, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona leads: its Architecture graduates earn a median $76,969 four years after finishing, against the field's $66,914 national median. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026.)

California Architecture programs by graduate earnings
#CollegeGrad earnings, 4 yrsVs field median
1California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$76,969+$10,055
2University of California-Berkeley$76,679+$9,765
3California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$76,613+$9,699

How big is the earnings gap between California Architecture programs?

$356 separates the top and bottom of this list — $76,969 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona against $76,613 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, four years after finishing. Same field, same state, same federal measure: where you study moves pay by that much.

Do California Architecture graduates earn more than the national median?

The state's strongest program pays $10,055 above the $66,914 national median for the field. Program-level medians come from federal tax records of graduates who received aid, so they track actual pay rather than advertised salaries.

Frequently asked questions

Which California college is best for Architecture?
By graduate earnings, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona — its Architecture bachelor's graduates earn a median $76,969 four years out, the highest of the 3 California programs in the federal file.
What do Architecture graduates earn in California?
Across the ranked California programs, median earnings four years after completion run from $76,613 to $76,969. The field's national median is $66,914.
Is a Architecture degree worth it?
On national medians, yes — Architecture graduates earn $18,554/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. See the full field profile for payback math.