Best institutions to study Sustainable Design/Architecture
A program that focuses on the application of biological, physical, and social science in the design of sustainable cities and metropolitan regions.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 44 Sustainable Design/Architecture students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 04.0403, a specialization of Environmental Design (CIP 04.04), and leads most directly to the Urban and Regional Planners occupation (BLS SOC 19-3051).
About Sustainable Design/Architecture programs
A program that focuses on the application of biological, physical, and social science in the design of sustainable cities and metropolitan regions. Includes instruction in community revitalization, community economic development, construction technology, design innovation, environmental economics, ethics, justice and politics, sustainable materials, sustainability theory, structural materials, and urbanism.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Sustainable Design/Architecture program, part of the Environmental Design field, focuses on the integration of biological, physical, and social sciences in the creation of sustainable urban environments. This program is ideal for students interested in addressing the challenges of urbanization and environmental sustainability through innovative design practices.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in community revitalization, sustainable materials, environmental economics, and urbanism. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, which are essential for addressing complex design challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Sustainable Design/Architecture graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate33 graduates / yr · 1 institution75%
- Master's degree7 graduates / yr · 1 institution16%
- Bachelor's degree4 graduates / yr · 1 institution9.1%
Graduates over time
Sustainable Design/Architecture completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 55 |
| 2023 | 50 |
| 2024 | 47 |
| 2025 | 44 |
CIP 04.0403 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 3 institutions for Sustainable Design/Architecture, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 33 | 98% | $15,013 |
| 2 | Boston Architectural College Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 32% | $41,647 |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TXPublicBachelor's | 4 | 54% | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Sustainable Design/Architecture graduates come from. Each state links to all Environmental Design programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 2 | 40 | Harvard University33 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 4 | The University of Texas at Arlington4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3051, Urban and Regional Planners, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Sustainable Design/Architecture program can pursue careers as Urban and Regional Planners, with a job outlook that is about as fast as average, featuring an annual opening of approximately 3,400 positions. The median wage for this occupation is $83,720, typically requiring a Master's degree for entry.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 04.0403
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Urban and Regional Plannersprimary SOC 19-3051 | $89,320 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~3,400 | Master's degree |
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1031 | $96,870 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Sustainable Design/Architecture 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
- Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
- Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
- Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
- Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
- Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
- Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
Tools and technology used
Other Environmental Design specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Environmental Design (CIP 04.04).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate, a Master's degree, or a Bachelor's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are three colleges offering this program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, and active learning, among others.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook for Urban and Regional Planners is about 3.4% growth, with 3,400 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Sustainable Design/Architecture?+
Sustainable Design/Architecture is CIP 04.0403 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Environmental Design (CIP 04.04). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of biological, physical, and social science in the design of sustainable cities and metropolitan regions. Includes instruction in community revitalization, community economic development, construction technology, design innovation, environmental economics, ethics, justice and politics, sustainable materials, sustainability theory, structural materials, and urbanism.
How many institutions offer Sustainable Design/Architecture programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Sustainable Design/Architecture graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 44 credentials in the year. That is 5.7% of all Environmental Design graduates.
How much do Sustainable Design/Architecture graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Urban and Regional Planners occupation, which Sustainable Design/Architecture most directly leads to, pays a median of $89,320 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
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