Many say that architecture is much more than just designing beautiful buildings.
There is something miraculous in imagining a structure, putting an idea on paper or in a computer, and turning that vision into reality.
The master’s program in architecture lasts from one to three years usually, depending on the undergraduate study of the candidate.
Applicants with a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) degree can receive a master’s degree in one or two years.
Conversely, applicants without an undergraduate degree may earn a Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) degree in three or more years.
In some cases, applicants with a professional degree in architecture may short the time spent attending a master’s degree.
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Average Costs
The price of a Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree depends on the school, whether private or public, the place where you study, and whether you are a resident or a non-resident.
The tuition fees of the Masters in Architecture universities in the USA range between $9,500 to $55,600.
The average salary for a student with a Master’s in Architecture degree from US universities is $110,000 per year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.4% employment growth for Architects between 2018 and 2028.
According to AIA Compensation Report, the average annual salary of architects increased by 6.2% from 2017 to 2019.
The public University of California charges $31,100 per year for M.Arch in Architecture.
Students can earn a degree in two years.
You may find the tuition of $46,000 per year at the University of Arizona, Tucson, for a two-year program.
The University of Puerto Rico has one of the lowest tuition, just $9,500 per year, for a two-year program.
According to the QS Global World University Ranking, the best university for Masters in Architecture, in the USA, is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
This private university offers 3,5 years M.Arch program that costs $187,075 in total.
Harvard University charges tuition of $133,500 for 2,5 years program.
Before getting a license, architects must use the AXP (Architecture Experience Program) to document a certain number of experiences.
It cost about $100 to register, and $85 for yearly renewal.
Also, they must pass six parts of the ARE (Architect Registration Examination) at a total cost of $1,400.
The license application itself costs between $25 and $85, as well as a $385 transmittal fee for the national registration board to send details to the appropriate jurisdiction.
Additional Costs
Except for tuition, there are a lot of other costs associated with being an architecture student.
As well as a book, you may need to purchase some other materials, tools, and software.
This will surely add a few hundred or even thousands more to the total amount.
Also, you have to worry about things like transport and food.
For example, Princeton University lists the following fees:
- $1,900 per year for health insurance,
- $4,470 per year for other fees,
- $13,800 per year for housing,
- $8,380 per year for food, and
- $7,900 for other personal expenses.
Discounts
Pursuing architecture courses can be a bit expensive.
Many universities and institutes offer scholarships for international students in the USA to ease their financial problems.
Among the top schools, a scholarship between 25-50% is solely available in MIT where admission standards are very high.
There are commissions and organizations that offer scholarships and financial aid to students based on different criteria, like academic achievements, financial needs, and extracurricular activities.
Some of the scholarships offered to students pursuing a Masters in Architecture in the USA are:
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program in USA – approximately 4,000 foreign students receive between $1,000 and $2,500 each year
- Go Clean Scholarship – the program offers an award value of $3,500 to students of any nationality from all around the world
Here you can search for more scholarships in the USA.
