Best colleges for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians by graduate earnings are University of Southern Mississippi ($76,114), Purdue University ($75,913) and Ranken Technical College ($51,903), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS): $76,114, 26 graduates a year
- Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN): $75,913, 230 graduates a year
- Ranken Technical College (Saint Louis, MO): $51,903, 33 graduates a year
- New England Institute of Technology (East Greenwich, RI): $50,342, 21 graduates a year
- University of Hartford (West Hartford, CT): $35,654, 42 graduates a year
Compare 72 U.S. colleges offering Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 33 states.
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,342 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 15.01 and the Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians occupation (BLS SOC).
About Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs
The Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians program prepares students to apply engineering principles to the design and construction of buildings and other structures. This program is ideal for individuals interested in the intersection of architecture and engineering, focusing on the technical aspects of construction and design processes.
Learn more about Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians →
Students in this program develop core skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and active listening, along with knowledge in engineering, building construction, and design. Coursework often includes drafting detailed drawings, reading blueprints, and analyzing site factors to ensure project specifications are met.
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,114 | 26 | 49% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,913 | 230 | 83% | — | $19,270 |
| 3 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,903 | 33 | 53% | $17,520 | — |
| 4 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,342 | 21 | 60% | $36,659 | $32,834 |
| 5 | University of Hartford West Hartford, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,654 | 42 | 54% | $28,311 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $69,349 | 1 | 54% | — | $21,717 |
| 7 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $50,908 | 17 | 41% | — | $18,750 |
| 8 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, NY Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,044 | 18 | 55% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,838 | 19 | 53% | — | $16,825 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI Public · Associate degree Small program | $48,848 | 15 | 51% | — | $14,188 |
| 2 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI Public · Associate degree Small program | $44,840 | 15 | 45% | — | — |
Specializations within Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 15.01 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 33 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 3 | $76,114 | University of Southern Mississippi |
| Indianalimited | 2 | $75,913 | Purdue University |
| Missourilimited | 2 | $51,903 | Ranken Technical College |
| Floridalimited | 1 | $50,908 | Seminole State College of Florida |
| Rhode Islandlimited | 1 | $50,342 | New England Institute of Technology |
| Wisconsin | 7 | $48,848 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College |
| New York | 9 | $46,044 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
| Connecticutlimited | 1 | $35,654 | University of Hartford |
| Alaskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Californialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Colorado | 4 | — | — |
| Delawarelimited | 1 | — | — |
| District of Columbialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 1 | — | — |
| Illinoislimited | 1 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Massachusettslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michigan | 3 | — | — |
| New Hampshirelimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 1 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 10 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 2 | — | — |
| Pennsylvanialimited | 2 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 2 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Tennessee | 3 | — | — |
| Texaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Vermontlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Washingtonlimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-3022, Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians program can expect a career outlook that is about as fast as average, with an estimated 5,500 annual job openings. The median wage for this field is approximately $64,200, and a typical education requirement is an associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 15.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 15.01 (Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 17-3011 | Architectural and Civil Drafters |
| 17-3022 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Techniciansprimary |
| 17-3029 | Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Calculate dimensions, square footage, profile and component specifications, and material quantities, using calculator or computer.
- Read and review project blueprints and structural specifications to determine dimensions of structure or system and material requirements.
- Draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for projects to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Confer with supervisor to determine project details such as plan preparation, acceptance testing, and evaluation of field conditions.
- Analyze proposed site factors and design maps, graphs, tracings, and diagrams to illustrate findings.
- Prepare reports and document project activities and data.
Common questions
What is Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians?+
It is a program that combines engineering principles with architectural design to prepare students for careers in construction and building design.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn critical thinking, mathematics, active listening, and skills related to drafting and analyzing construction projects.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with around 5,500 annual openings in the field.
What is the typical education required?+
Most positions require an associate's degree in Architectural Engineering Technologies.
How much do Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?+
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,342, College Scorecard (2019); the Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians occupation pays about $68,990 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians?+
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians maps to CIP 15.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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