Architecture Grad School Costs More Than the Degree Returns
Individuals pursuing architecture degrees face challenges including affordability, program selection, workload concerns, and navigating complex application processes. Many are transitioning to education after periods of service, highlighting a desire to fulfill long-held career goals. The complaints reveal a need for clarity and support in choosing the right architectural program.
SOURCES (60)
“(This is my first time posting here and I’m pretty sure this is allowed by sub rules but plz remove if not) I’m in my 3rd year of a B.Arch from NJIT and I’m starting to stress about my future career. I’m a transfer and…”
“I am currently in my 3rd year of architect school. I just started the semester and already see a bunch of work in just 3 months. I have canceled on plans with friends, family even my own birthday party because I just couldn't have fun without stressing over my studio projects. So my question is: Is being an architect worth all the stress? In the real world out there once I graduate and work for a firm am I gonna be under the same stress and pressure studio puts me under? Is the work load hav”
“hello, im enrolled in art and design. my first priority for the longest time before university was architecture, it changed a few months before university started. as satisfied I am with certain projects of mine I constantly feel like im missing out on something that was meant for me. I spend alot of my time in the library reading books on architecture. I have concluded that alot of those books are not exactly what will help me grasp enough knowledge to apply to my current practice (since most o”
“im still in my 1st year of college and im having conflicts in what suits me more. ilove arts, but i also love learning about people. as much as i enjoy following instructions, i MORE enjoy creating and designing my own things. but math is such a weakness for me, science too, but im better at science than math. art and sketching is what im mostly good at... so i don't know if ill survive in archi. what i know for sure is i just really like it and have an interest in it, and yes i know that it”
“I wanna study architecture but have earn money. Tell me what is your profession,age, location and salary( in euro) so I can have an idea. submitted by /u/Afraid-Ad1111 [link] [comments]”
“Hello! I'm currently studying my Bachelors in Architecture and Planning in the UK and enjoy my course, however, I wanted to explore other careers I could go into with this course. I've always enjoyed the balance of Maths and Creativity, however, my course has very little Maths involved in the curriculum, which I would like to do more of. For Masters, I was thinking about potentially going into Architecture, Cinematics and Videogame Architecture, or Infrastructure Investment and Finance a”
“Profile: Age/Gender: 32F, Indian Education: B.Arch from a Tier 1 NIT + Credible Industry specific certifications. GMAT: Not yet taken, prepping now. Assume I can hit 700+, I feel confident as math and aptitude has been my strongest forte', tell me if that's not good enough at my age/YOE. Work Experience: 9 years total 7 years India, top-tier construction MNC (Big 4 equivalent), yearly promotions, always youngest in the positions. 2 years UAE, one of the largest developers in the country”
“hi currently in my mid 20s working as a part 1 and thinking of going into masters but as any other indecisive person and who has seen what life is like as a part 2 by observing my seniors, i genuinely dont see things getting any better. sleepless nights, many hours from family stolen and that's just the surface. should i continue into masters knowing this is probably not the life i want and if so what kind of alternative job can i choose with this degree and experience. and if i do continue”
“Hello, writing on behalf of my sister who doesn’t have Reddit. She wants to become an architect and is currently going to school at UNR in Reno, NV (USA). She’s a freshman studying Civil Engineering and plans to do a Masters in Architecture after graduating. As an engineering PM in the energy sector I know how important internships are to building connections in your field and determining if you like the day-to-day before graduation. What are some of the firms we should be looking at for interns”
“I have completed 2 years of a BA Architecture course in the UK and was wondering if getting into Interior Design was at all possible, provided I create an appropriate portfolio. Is a degree in Interior Design mandatory in the UK, and if not (which seems to be the case based on what I’ve looked at), what are my chances realistically? I’m prepared for it to be very hard and with a miserable pay for the first few years. Probably worth saying I am based in London. Apologies if this is not the best p”
“Photo: diagrammatic model in Rhino to bring attention to my post Hi everyone! I'm a 24-year-old male, married, in my final year of my Bachelor of S. of Architecture. I am looking for help deciding if I should go right into full-time work as an alternate path to licensure. Time is not a factor - with the amount of AXP hours I currently have, I will be eligible in either scenario for licensure in 2.5 years. Below are all the variables, but I want to hear your thoughts on the value of your M.Ar”
“How can I become a qualified or registered architect in Pakistan if I have an undergraduate ba architecture from the uk submitted by /u/Altruistic_Lawyer342 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone! I'll be applying soon, but I'm not sure yet. I've always dreamed of becoming an architect, but after evaluating my drawing skills, I'm starting to have second thoughts. I'm considering urban studies, as it's the most interesting field for me after architecture. I also have the opportunity to enroll in architectural drawing classes, although it's clearly not a skill you can master in a year. Do you think drawing is worth pursuing seriously? And how promisi”
“So, im 17 years old. I wanna be an architect and, feel a passion for architecture, but i dont know if its a passion for architecture or jus a passion to create. Whenever i think of building something meaningful, i get excited, restless, motivated in awe for whats to come. But then when i look on the internet for further motivation, all i get is negativity about architecture. I REALLY wanna pursue it but i lowkey value myself and my time so, im not sure if im up for spending overnight at a studio”
“hi, a bit of background Im in the last year of interior architecture but I want to do management in a top school for my masters, did I waste my time and money ? / i would likely get into real estate/luxury so it’s not super unrelated right ? I love architecture but I love financial stability more 🥲 I made most of my money from being an influencer to pay for the school I couldn’t get an actual part time job or even internship related to architecture, and since I live abroad since I was 18 so it’”
“I'm currently in a B.Arch program in the UAE, but honestly the quality of education here feels weak, it feels more like paying for a degree than actually learning. I'm looking to transfer somewhere with real academic rigor, and trying to decide between staying on a B.Arch (5-yr professional, US-style) track elsewhere vs. transferring to a school that offers a BSc/BA in Architecture (3-4 yrs, non-professional, RIBA Part 1 style, needs a Master's after to qualify). **For B.Arch grads:*”
“I may just be overreacting, but I feel like dropping out of Architecture. I am a 1st Year College student and I’ve chosen this course due to my parents wanting me to help “improve” our family business. I have no real passion for architecture nor any deep understanding about everything in the course, but I’m trying. However, as days are going by while I remain in this course, I notice it’s been doing more bad than good to me. I have been neglecting self-care, proper sleep, proper food, my mental”
“Hi all! I was awarded a Bachelor's in Architecture with a Pass at university. This happened because of family issues near the end of my course — close family member died at the end of my course, then my mum and dad fell seriously ill at different times (all these through the span of 2 years), and I had to be their carer whilst working full time as a manager at a hotel (worked through my studies but when everything happened i could not stop because we needed the money). I tried to retake the”
“Hi guys! Im currently doing a creative degree, but im scared its a bad choice and I cant get out now cuz too financially heavy. Definately wish i went for a more secure degree but here we are... However, over the last few days, ive been trying to think of a career that I can go into which ive struggled with greatly since ages, but im looking now... Im quite interested in VR/AR, Product design, UX or UI design and perhaps graphics design (although cuz of how many people do it, im not willing to g”
“I’m feeling very torn because I keep going back and forth between two different paths. And I need to apply to my next program very soon. Architecture is the one I genuinely love. I feel passionate about it, I find the work fascinating, and I’m excited by the entire process of taking something that exists only as an idea and turning it into something real. There is something almost magical to me about imagining a space, working through the design, solving problems, and eventually seeing it built.”
“Hey Guys, i have finished my bachelors and am currently working as an junior project architect and am thinking of doing my masters. i am confused between doing MSc in Architecture or Msc in Real estate/ Development/finance/ economics. Also at the end of the day i am going to do something of my own and wont be in corporate. any advice is welcome thank you submitted by /u/Dizzy-Item-8073 [link] [comments]”
“I am currently studying architecture in my late 20s and am based in New York. I am in a Bachelor's of Technology in Architectural Technology program and will have the opportunity to apply to the 5 year B.Arch program soon. I'm in a somewhat unusual position because I already have an AAS in Civil Technology, will have completed an AAS in Architectural Technology, and have about 3 years of experience working as a drafter at a civil engineering firm. I am also currently logging AXP and will”
“im currently in senior high and since junior high, ive been set on architecture. with college fast approaching, i feel like im hesitating. i have nothing planned yet, aside from the fact that architecture is/was a path i want to set on. ive seen videos on architecture during college, and its genuinely things i think id enjoy doing, however, in regards to the actual field, im not really sure what to expect. so with both cons and pros in mind—for students in college, what do you expect in the futu”
“Looking for advice. I am currently 26, for the past 2 years i have been working full time while also attending architecture school full time. I was a painter for 6 years before arch school, but I grew tired of just getting by and figured architecture was a professional creative degree where i can be passionate about the work i do and pair it with being an artist nicely, and make decent salary too. It has been a grind, but i was making it with A's and B's which is fine by me. Until spring”
“Looking for advice. I am currently 26, for the past 2 years i have been working full time while also attending architecture school full time. I was a painter for 6 years before arch school, but I grew tired of just getting by and figured architecture was a professional creative degree where i can be passionate about the work i do and pair it with being an artist nicely, and make decent salary too. It has been a grind, but i was making it with A's and B's which is fine by me. Until spring”
“I just graduated a 3-year Masters of Architecture this Spring in the US with an Environmental Science B.S. from undergrad. Ideally I would love to go into green design, environmentally responsive design, biophilic design, etc in the long term, but right now I'm just trying to get a foot in the door at all. For context: I currently work in an unrelated field part-time and live at home, so financially I'm not pressured, but I do really want to move forward. I wasn't able to intern duri”
“Hello, I’m looking to do masters in Architecture in TU Delft. I just wanted to get an overall insight about career opportunities after masters and if it is worth it for me to consider relocating for this opportunity. It would be great if yall could give me a descriptive explanation so that I can give this step a thought. Thanks for helping out! submitted by /u/hotchocolatefudgee [link] [comments]”
“Hello, I’m looking to do masters in EPFL, Zurich. I just wanted to get an overall insight about career opportunities after masters in Switzerland or any European country and if it is worth it for me to consider relocating for this opportunity. It would be great if yall could give me a descriptive explanation so that I can give this step a thought. Thanks for helping out! submitted by /u/hotchocolatefudgee [link] [comments]”
“French below ! 🇫🇷 Hey everyone! I’m currently a French student in my first year of master degree in architecture. To graduate, I need to complete a 2-month internship at a firm. Since I’m spending this whole academic year on an exchange program in Brasil. I won't have time to do it between my first and second year of master as it is originally what people do. So I’m planning to do it right after my second year of master just after graduating basically (which is allowed by my school), and t”
“If I want to study architecture so bad,but I can't due to financial reasons,what can I study instead that can help me make money later to study architecture? Please help I don't have time! I need to have a second choice😭😭 submitted by /u/jeeno_is_stay_143 [link] [comments]”
“(Posting here for different opinions) Looking for some advice and would love to hear from people who've been in a similar position. I have a Bachelor's degree in retail merchandising and I currently work in construction for a consumer brand. I don't want to be an architect and don't think I want to be traditional interior designer either. Long term, I'm leaning towards spatial/experiential design and project management for brands like Lush or Aesop (so light design, but actua”
“22 f ...Hey I got intrest in b arch after my bsc and I do art painting and now have intrest in design but it's 5 years and ug so it's like starting over Should I do it ? Many people are saying it's dead in India It's so hectic submitted by /u/_Ar_tistiq [link] [comments]”
“Hi, I'm a first-year student studying a Bachelor of Design (Architecture) and so basically Architecture is great and all, and I love the modelling and creativity and like the first semester was going pretty okay. But the thing is that I'm not even sure of my course anymore, like last sem mainly because of a surgery that was schedulled the last week of the semester it kind of messed up my mine it was just in the wrong place and everything, i was already feeling down and just so exhausted”
“I'm in high school and I'm looking at applying for the architecture program at NCSU's design school. I've heard that there are quite a few other routes/careers outside of freelance and working at a firm where degrees in architecture are required/useful. I would like to know any specific job examples anyone has or jobs in general that you know of. If there is another subreddit that might be better for this post, let me know please! Thanks submitted by /u/PlaneOldJosh [”
“I live in an South-Asian country. I’m in the 4th year of my architecture undergrad (graduating in the end of 2027) and plan to do my Master's in the UK to build a longterm career as an architect there. I'd love some advice from UK-based or international architects: M.Arch vs Part 2: Should I strictly focus on Master's programs that offer ARB/RIBA Part 2 accreditation? How does getting Part 1 equivalency work for international grads? Job Prospects: How realistic is it to land a Part 2”
“I’m interested in applying for this program but I have some questions. Maybe some of you can help. 1-Could I realistically qualify? For context, I already have both a bachelors and masters in standard Architecture acquired at a university accredited in the US and about 4 years experience working in the field. Their listed qualifications mention an academic background in Landscape architecture, but also seem to mention a background in regular architecture being acceptable, at least how I’m interp”
“Hi everyone, My boyfriend is doing his Master in Architecture. I’m wondering what jobs you can get out of school. How are everyone’s finances looking like for those who completed their M.Arch and was it worth it? I’d love to know if he would be financially stable :) Thanks submitted by /u/Embarrassed-Carob178 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone, I am starting to look at Masters applications for Architecture and was wondering what people's experiences were. I attended Newcastle University and I finished my second year with a 69, but then in my third year I went through suffered some difficult personal circumstances, which led to me missing the deadlines and the uni would not accept my appeal. In the end my grades were all firsts but capped at 40%, which led to a final degree classification of 2:2 while it would be a firs”
“Hi! I am currently a senior looking at degree plans and researching colleges! I was wondering if majoring in something like Urban Technology/Planning opposed to Architecture would be a bad idea? Does anyone know personally if that major will help me excel, or should I just stick to an Architecture major and maybe minor in something like Urban Planning. My main conundrum with this is that I think (obviously not for sure) that I may like Urban Planning more, as I am really interested in researchin”
“I’ve been in uni for two years and I got in thinking I will graduate with BSc in architecture. Turns out it’s BFA in architecture, and I feel worried that this will affect my opportunities to work internationally. I’m thinking of changing schools but I’m not sure if it’ll work. Poland submitted by /u/Reasonable_Bus_2714 [link] [comments]”
“3 options. First some background: 23m, NJ area. Looking to work in NYC. No previous debt. 100% committed to architecture. receives support from parents, conditional. NJIT M.Arch, 2 years, no debt. Seems there is serious financial stability problems at NJIT for the university, they announced doubled tuition going foward but then walked it back for this year. worried about the program. no interest in working in NJ long term. Pratt M.Arch, 2 years, no debt but possibly 20kish debt due to parental s”
“Hey everyone. I'm thinking of taking architectural technology this September but I had some questions for people who've studied/worked in that field as well as people working with, or have interacted with Architectural Technologists. - What is the average pay? My findings from searching seems to point toward the industry average being around $30 dollars per hour. - How heavy is the course load? I saw on another subreddit that it was very heavy in terms of studio time (which I am fine wit”
“How do you feel about that? In a year I'll be a qualified architect, but I feel like I got into university loving it, and will leave looking for a job related to architecture that doesn't really involve being an architect. I know this isn't just me, because when I started university students ahead of me always seemed to regret the choice they had made. Even graduated architects told me that they wanted to change fields and that I still had time to pick something else. I've been a”
“Sorry for the long post in advance. I’ve recently been considering a master’s in architectural conservation but I don’t know if that is for sure the route I want to take or if there are other options out there I should consider. I’m located in the US, I am in my late 20s, and I have an associates degree in Architectural Technology and bachelor’s degree in Accounting (explained below). I started learning drafting in high school and then went on to obtain an associates degree in Architectural Tech”
“I’m 21 and decided not to go back to school this semester because I want to go all in on learning carpentry and custom home building. My long-term goal is to eventually build high-end custom homes of my own, and right now I want to learn from people who are doing just that. I’m specifically hoping to find a smaller custom home builder or carpentry crew in San Diego that still does a lot of the actual building themselves. Ideally, I’d love to work around both framing and finish carpentry and lear”
“I’m 21 and decided not to go back to school this semester because I want to go all in on learning carpentry and custom home building. My long-term goal is to eventually build high-end custom homes of my own, and right now I want to learn from people who are doing just that. I’m specifically hoping to find a smaller custom home builder or carpentry crew in San Diego that still does a lot of the actual building themselves. Ideally, I’d love to work around both framing and finish carpentry and lear”
“Hi all, Hope you’re doing well and Happy Summer! Couple of questions about becoming and being an Architect: 1) How difficult or rigorous is college? Similar to Engineering or less so? 2) How well do they get paid (so on the Architecture sub that they say it’s not a high paying job which was surprising given the training involved)? 3) Is it mostly Using CAD/BIM software? 4) AI susceptible or still need a person? I’m a HS CAD teacher and this seems like such a cool career with a lot of options but”