Best colleges for Architectural Sciences and Technology in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, University of Southern California and Woodbury University are the top bachelor's Architectural Sciences and Technology programs in California by graduate earnings. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $58,653, College Scorecard. Mt San Antonio College, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and University of Southern California award the most Architectural Sciences and Technology degrees in California: 152, 146 and 144 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 48 California colleges offer Architectural Sciences and Technology and award 1,753 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Architectural Sciences and Technology program focuses on the principles and practices involved in architecture and related services. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the technical aspects of building…
Top 3 bachelor's programs, 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 | $58,653 | 146 | 86% | — | $23,500 |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,874 | 144 | 92% | $26,873 | $30,625 |
| 3 | Woodbury University Burbank Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,484 | 88 | 60% | $28,493 | $39,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Architectural Sciences and Technology degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 152 | Not reported |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 146 | $58,653 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 144 | $47,874 |
| 4 | Southern California Institute of Architecture Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 131 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 115 | Not reported |
| 6 | Woodbury University Burbank Private not-for-profit | 88 | $40,484 |
| 7 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit | 83 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 71 | Not reported |
| 9 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | 64 | Not reported |
| 10 | Ventura College Ventura Public | 58 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 38 California colleges offering Architectural Sciences and Technology
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Architectural and Civil Drafters (SOC 17-3011).
Top skills
What Architectural and Civil Drafters earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Architectural Sciences and Technology programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Architectural Sciences and Technology degrees?+
Mt San Antonio College (152 graduates a year), California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (146 graduates a year) and University of Southern California (144 graduates a year) award the most Architectural Sciences and Technology degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 48 California colleges offer Architectural Sciences and Technology.
What is the best college for Architectural Sciences and Technology in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads among bachelor's Architectural Sciences and Technology programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $58,653, College Scorecard. University of Southern California and Woodbury University follow. By degrees awarded, Mt San Antonio College is the largest, with 152 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Architectural Sciences and Technology 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 $58,653. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Architectural and Civil Drafters earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Architectural and Civil Drafters in California is $80,360 (median $76,520), across about 11,400 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Architectural Sciences and Technology program?+
The Architectural Sciences and Technology program focuses on the principles and practices involved in architecture and related services. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the technical aspects of building…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, writing, active learning, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Architectural and Civil Drafters?+
The national job outlook is about +4.1% growth with around 10,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Associate'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