Architecture · California
Architecture colleges in California
CampusPin lists 2 U.S. colleges in California that offer Architecture programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.
Architecture combines design, structural reasoning, and building systems to plan habitable spaces, suiting students who pair creative drawing with technical problem-solving.
Schools in California that offer Architecture
Architecture programs in California: by the numbers
A quick comparison of the 2 schools listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.
Schools listed
2
Public / private
0 / 2
Universities / 2-year
2 / 0
Cities represented
2
In-state tuition range
$30,291–$53,564
Median in-state tuition
$41,928
Lowest published in-state tuition
Newschool of Architecture and Design
$30,291
Most selective
Southern California Institute of Architecture
83% acceptance
Largest by enrollment
Southern California Institute of Architecture
454 students
Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.
What you'll study in a Architecture program
- Design studio: developing projects from concept through schematic and design-development drawings
- Architectural drawing, drafting, and physical and digital model-making
- CAD and BIM tools (such as Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, and SketchUp)
- Building structures, statics, and how loads move through a building
- Environmental, mechanical, lighting, and acoustic systems for buildings
- Construction materials, methods, detailing, and building assemblies
- Architectural history and theory across periods and movements
- Site analysis, zoning, building codes, and accessibility (ADA) requirements
Where a Architecture degree can lead
- Architects
- Architectural Designer
- Urban and Regional Planner
- Interior Designer
- Construction Manager
- Landscape Architect
Typical pay: BLS, 2024 architects median $96,690
An Architecture major centers on the design studio, where students develop projects from concept through drawings and physical or digital models, alongside coursework in architectural history and theory, building structures, environmental and mechanical systems, construction materials and methods, site planning, and building codes. Programs lean heavily on CAD and BIM software, hand drawing, and model-making, and most require studio sequences each term that build toward a comprehensive design project.
Degrees come in a few forms: a five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch), a four-year pre-professional bachelor's followed by a Master of Architecture (M.Arch), or a direct M.Arch for students entering from another field. The professional B.Arch or M.Arch is the path most students take toward licensure.
Graduates work in architecture and engineering firms, often beginning as architectural designers before completing the experience and examination requirements to become licensed. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2024 median annual wage for architects was $96,690, and employment of architects is projected to change 3.9% from 2024 to 2034. Related paths include urban and regional planning, interior architecture, and construction-focused roles.
Architecture in other states
Find more Architecture schools
Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 2+ Architecture programs in California by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.