Best colleges for Landscape Architecture in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona and University of California-Berkeley are the top bachelor's Landscape Architecture 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 $58,331, College Scorecard. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and University of California-Davis award the most Landscape Architecture degrees in California: 105, 50 and 48 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 California colleges offer Landscape Architecture and award 265 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Landscape Architecture program focuses on the design of outdoor areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve various environmental, social, and aesthetic outcomes. This field combines elements of design, engineering, and environmental…
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 | $58,331 | 50 | 86% | — | $22,433 |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,253 | 105 | 68% | — | $20,893 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,413 | 24 | 93% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Landscape Architecture degrees in California
Top 7 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 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 105 | $47,253 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 50 | $58,331 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 48 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 24 | $43,413 |
| 5 | MiraCosta College Oceanside Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 7 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Landscape Architects (SOC 17-1012).
Top skills
What Landscape Architects earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Landscape Architecture programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Landscape Architecture degrees?+
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona (105 graduates a year), California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (50 graduates a year) and University of California-Davis (48 graduates a year) award the most Landscape Architecture degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 California colleges offer Landscape Architecture.
What is the best college for Landscape Architecture in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads among bachelor's Landscape Architecture programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $58,331, College Scorecard. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona and University of California-Berkeley follow. By degrees awarded, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is the largest, with 105 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Landscape Architecture 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 $58,331. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Landscape Architects earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Landscape Architects in California is $110,360 (median $98,380), across about 2,310 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Landscape Architecture program?+
The Landscape Architecture program focuses on the design of outdoor areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve various environmental, social, and aesthetic outcomes. This field combines elements of design, engineering, and environmental…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Landscape Architects?+
The national job outlook is about +3.5% growth with around 1,700 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.
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