Best colleges for Architectural Engineering in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is the only California college that awards Architectural Engineering degrees and certificates: 89 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Architectural Engineering is a specialized field within engineering that focuses on the design and construction of buildings. This discipline integrates various engineering principles, including environmental, structural, mechanical, and…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,481 | 89 | 86% | — | $25,116 |
Colleges awarding the most Architectural Engineering degrees in California
By graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 89 | $80,481 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Architectural and Engineering Managers (SOC 11-9041).
Top skills
What Architectural and Engineering Managers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Architectural Engineering programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Architectural Engineering degrees?+
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is the only California college that awards Architectural Engineering degrees and certificates: 89 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions).
Which Architectural Engineering program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $80,481. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Architectural and Engineering Managers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Architectural and Engineering Managers in California is $213,110 (median $210,280), across about 29,630 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Architectural Engineering program?+
Architectural Engineering is a specialized field within engineering that focuses on the design and construction of buildings. This discipline integrates various engineering principles, including environmental, structural, mechanical, and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, writing, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Architectural and Engineering Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.8% growth with around 14,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card