Environmental Design and Architecture: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Environmental Design and Architecture is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field focused on shaping the spaces where people live, work, and gather. This program equips students with the creative and technical expertise to conceptualize, plan, and realize functional, sustainable, and aesthetically compelling environments across diverse contexts.
- Design and Planning of Open Spaces: Explores the strategic development of public and private outdoor areas, emphasizing their integration with surrounding built structures and natural systems to enhance usability and community engagement.
- Integration with the Built Environment: Examines how architectural forms, urban layouts, and landscape elements interact to create cohesive, efficient, and resilient environments that support human activity and ecological balance.
- Facilities Management: Provides foundational knowledge in the operational and maintenance aspects of built spaces, ensuring long-term functionality, safety, and adaptability across commercial, institutional, and residential settings.
- Interior Design Principles: Covers spatial organization, material selection, lighting, and human-centered design to create interior environments that are both practical and expressive of cultural and functional needs.
- Landscape Architecture: Focuses on the planning, design, and stewardship of land and natural systems, including green infrastructure, ecological restoration, and the use of vegetation to enhance environmental quality and aesthetic experience.
- Urban Planning and Development: Addresses large-scale spatial organization of cities and communities, including zoning, transportation networks, land use policies, and strategies for sustainable growth and equitable access to resources.
- Professional Standards and Ethics: Instills awareness of legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks governing design practice, including building codes, accessibility requirements, environmental regulations, and professional conduct.
Environmental Design and Architecture Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Environmental Design and Architecture Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Environmental Design and Architecture degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary and Architects, Except Landscape and Naval. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 350,180 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1031 | $101,480 | $59,590 - $166,720 | 9,120 | N/A |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval 17-1011 | $96,690 | $60,510 - $159,800 | 111,140 | $46.49 |
| Landscape Architects 17-1012 | $79,660 | $51,990 - $132,250 | 19,580 | $38.30 |
Environmental Design and Architecture Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $92,103 in Mississippi to $135,740 in Delaware—a 47% difference. The highest-paying states include Delaware, California, and Alaska. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 350,180 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Environmental Design and Architecture by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 38 institutions offering Environmental Design and Architecture programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Environmental Design and Architecture is found at University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (137 graduates), North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (61 graduates), University at Buffalo (UB) (49 graduates), University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Rio Piedras (43 graduates), and University of Hawaii (UHM), Manoa (39 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 658 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
137 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
|
61 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
49 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Otis College of Art and Design |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Los Angeles, California | Private | otis.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
9 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Clemson University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Post-Master's
|
8 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
6 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | mica.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
|
3 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| NHTI-Concord's Community College (NHTI) |
Associate's
|
3 | Concord, New Hampshire | Public | nhti.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Delaware Valley University (DelVal) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Doylestown, Pennsylvania | Private | delval.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Associate's
|
1 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Environmental Design and Architecture programs
How much can I earn with a Environmental Design and Architecture degree?
Salaries for Environmental Design and Architecture graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $101,480. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Delaware average $135,740 compared to $92,103 in Mississippi. Approximately 350,180 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Environmental Design and Architecture programs?
Currently 38 accredited institutions offer Environmental Design and Architecture degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (137 graduates), North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (61 graduates), and University at Buffalo (UB) (49 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Environmental Design and Architecture growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 886 in 2010 to a peak of 724 in 2020, before declining slightly to 658 in 2023-24. This represents a 26% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Environmental Design and Architecture degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary, and Architects, Except Landscape and Naval. Related occupations employ approximately 350,180 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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