Architecture and design: every university, ranked by pay
Architecture at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Bachelor's degree · Charlotte, North Carolina · 120 graduates in two years
What do Charlotte architecture graduates earn?
Median yearly pay of graduates who had federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Hidden where too few graduates to publish.
What does it take to get into Charlotte?
Admission is to the university, not the program, at most US schools.
How much does Charlotte cost?
Sticker price for a year, and what students actually paid after grants.
The cost by family income, debt and who finishes are on Charlotte's page.
What careers does Architecture lead to?
Careers people reach through this field, each with its pay, training and what the work is like.
- ArchitectDesign buildings and get them built. A long licensing path with three gates: a degree, logged experience, and six exams.$99kTypical pay7 to 10 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Industrial DesignerDecide what a physical product looks like, feels like and how it works before a factory builds a million of them.$84kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand
- UX DesignerDecide how an app or a website actually works. UX (user experience) design has a national median above $100,000 and nobody licenses it.$104kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemand
- Architectural TechnologistTurn a rough design into the drawings a crew can build from. Two years of school, no exams, no license.$66kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemand
- GIS AnalystTurn location data into maps and answers. GIS (geographic information systems) work sits behind 911 calls, utility crews and city plans.$81kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
- Interior DesignerPlan the inside of buildings so they work, not just so they look good. Codes and drawings, not cushions.$67kTypical pay4 to 7 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
Architecture at other universities
The same program elsewhere, North Carolina first, then the best paid.
| University | Pay, five years out | Debt | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, BerkeleyCalifornia | $87,387 | $13,156 | 11% |
| The University of Texas at AustinTexas | $82,532 | $27,250 | 27% |
| The Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania | $77,907 | $29,000 | 61% |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNew York | $77,328 | $31,000 | 64% |
| University of ArkansasArkansas | $75,889 | $30,500 | 74% |
| University of VirginiaVirginia | $75,426 | $14,402 | 17% |
| University of HoustonTexas | $73,558 | $27,500 | 74% |
| Auburn UniversityAlabama | $73,035 | $29,000 | 46% |
| University of WashingtonWashington | $71,195 | $11,000 | 39% |
| University of MarylandMaryland | $71,159 | $15,000 | 45% |
| Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia | $70,176 | $22,000 | 14% |
| University of MichiganMichigan | $69,668 | $15,475 | 16% |
Where these numbers come from
College Scorecard release 10152026, Most Recent Cohorts files, fetched 2026-10-20. Pay is the median for graduates who received federal aid, measured one and five years after finishing; debt is the median federal loan balance at graduation.
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Figures describe past students.