Best colleges for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of architects, engineers and planners engaged in designing and developing buildings, urban complexes, and related systems.
72 U.S. institutions graduated 1,494 Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 15.0101, a specialization of Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.01), and leads most directly to the Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians occupation (BLS SOC 17-3022).
About Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of architects, engineers and planners engaged in designing and developing buildings, urban complexes, and related systems. Includes instruction in design testing procedures, building site analysis, model building and computer graphics, engineering drawing, structural systems testing, analysis of prototype mechanical and interior systems, test equipment operation and maintenance, and report preparation.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians program prepares individuals to support architects, engineers, and planners in designing and developing buildings and urban complexes. This program is ideal for those interested in applying engineering principles and technical skills in the construction and design fields.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in engineering and technology, mathematics, building construction, and design. Coursework typically includes training in design testing procedures, building site analysis, engineering drawing, and model building.
Credentials awarded
What Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree686 graduates / yr · 64 institutions46%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year367 graduates / yr · 21 institutions25%
- Bachelor's degree351 graduates / yr · 12 institutions24%
- Master's degree39 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.6%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years29 graduates / yr · 6 institutions1.9%
- Award of less than 12 weeks12 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate10 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
Graduates over time
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,706 |
| 2013 | 1,428 |
| 2014 | 1,357 |
| 2015 | 1,285 |
| 2016 | 1,271 |
| 2017 | 1,241 |
| 2018 | 1,214 |
| 2019 | 1,335 |
| 2020 | 1,310 |
| 2021 | 1,290 |
| 2022 | 1,237 |
| 2023 | 1,260 |
| 2024 | 1,556 |
| 2025 | 1,494 |
Top 50 institutions for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purdue University West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 230 | 83% | — | $75,913 |
| 2 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 165 | 31% | — | — |
| 3 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 111 | 33% | — | — |
| 4 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MIPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 45 | 47% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Hartford West Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 42 | 54% | $28,311 | $35,654 |
| 6 | Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 39 | 43% | — | — |
| 7 | Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PAPublicAssociate's | 38 | 24% | — | — |
| 8 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 33 | 53% | $17,520 | $51,903 |
| 9 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OHPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 29 | 28% | — | — |
| 10 | Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 28 | 34% | — | — |
| 11 | Suffolk County Community College Selden, NYPublicAssociate's | 28 | 29% | — | — |
| 12 | Nashville State Community College Nashville, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 27 | 18% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MSPublicBachelor's | 26 | 49% | — | $76,114 |
| 14 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 26 | 24% | — | — |
| 15 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WIPublicAssociate's | 26 | 29% | — | — |
| 16 | Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 34% | — | — |
| 17 | Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs, COPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 21% | — | — |
| 18 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RIPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 21 | 60% | $36,659 | $50,342 |
| 19 | Greenville Technical College Greenville, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 21 | 21% | — | — |
| 20 | Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 21 | 18% | — | — |
| 21 | Community College of Denver Denver, COPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 20% | — | — |
| 22 | Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NYPublicBachelor's | 19 | 53% | — | $41,838 |
| 23 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 18 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 24 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred, NYPublicBachelor'sAssociate's | 18 | 55% | — | $46,044 |
| 25 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 18 | 41% | — | — |
| 26 | Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SDPublicAssociate's | 18 | 59% | — | — |
| 27 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FLPublicBachelor's | 17 | 41% | — | $50,908 |
| 28 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 17 | 34% | — | — |
| 29 | Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 16 | 49% | — | — |
| 30 | Wilkes Community College Wilkesboro, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 16 | 55% | — | — |
| 31 | Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PAPublicAssociate's | 16 | 24% | — | — |
| 32 | Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TXPublicAssociate's | 16 | 11% | — | — |
| 33 | Triton College River Grove, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 15 | 29% | — | — |
| 34 | Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TNPublicAssociate's | 15 | 31% | — | — |
| 35 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 46% | — | — |
| 36 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WIPublicAssociate's | 15 | 45% | — | $44,840 |
| 37 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WIPublicAssociate's | 15 | 51% | — | $48,848 |
| 38 | Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DEPublicAssociate's | 13 | 22% | — | — |
| 39 | Essex County College Newark, NJPublicAssociate's | 12 | 20% | — | — |
| 40 | Dutchess Community College Poughkeepsie, NYPublicAssociate's | 12 | 30% | — | — |
| 41 | Front Range Community College Westminster, COPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 35% | — | — |
| 42 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton, NDPublicAssociate's | 10 | 55% | — | — |
| 43 | Orange County Community College Middletown, NYPublicAssociate's | 9 | 25% | — | — |
| 44 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WIPublicAssociate's | 9 | 51% | — | — |
| 45 | University of the District of Columbia Washington, DCPublicAssociate's | 8 | 33% | — | — |
| 46 | Onondaga Community College Syracuse, NYPublicAssociate's | 8 | 27% | — | — |
| 47 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WIPublicAssociate's | 8 | 34% | — | — |
| 48 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AKPublicAssociate's | 7 | 30% | — | — |
| 49 | Durham Technical Community College Durham, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 45% | — | — |
| 50 | Pitt Community College Winterville, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 35% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 15.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 33 states
Where Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates come from. Each state links to all Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
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 pursue careers as Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians, with an average annual wage of $64,200. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated 5,500 annual openings and a typical education requirement of an Associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 15.0101
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Civil Engineering Technologists and Techniciansprimary SOC 17-3022 | $64,950 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~5,500 | Associate's degree |
Architectural and Civil Drafters SOC 17-3011 | $66,150 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~10,000 | Associate's degree |
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other SOC 17-3029 | $78,350 | +1.5% Little or no change | ~5,700 | Associate's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degree can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, a Bachelor's degree, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, active listening, and writing.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a Civil Engineering Technologist, Architectural Drafter, or Engineering Technician.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.1% and approximately 5,500 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians?+
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians is CIP 15.0101 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.01). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of architects, engineers and planners engaged in designing and developing buildings, urban complexes, and related systems. Includes instruction in design testing procedures, building site analysis, model building and computer graphics, engineering drawing, structural systems testing, analysis of prototype mechanical and interior systems, test equipment operation and maintenance, and report preparation.
How many institutions offer Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs?+
72 U.S. institutions reported Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 33 states, awarding 1,494 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians occupation, which Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians most directly leads to, pays a median of $64,950 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,342, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates, so its figures match the Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians program page.
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