M.Arch in USA for Indian Students: Top Universities, Courses, Eligibility & Ranking

Pursuing a Master of Architecture (M.Arch) in the USA is popular for Indian students seeking advanced architectural education and global career opportunities. M.Arch in USA is a 12-month to 48-month full-time program offered to international students. Universities in the USA offer master's of architecture programs to students at an affordable tuition fee. Architecture Universities in USA for international students provide better career opportunities and a platform to enhance their skills and imagination.

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) of the USA grants students the ‘Architect License’, which allows them to work as architects anywhere in the world. The Master of Architecture USA average salary is around USD 67,000 or INR 58.52 L (USD 1 = INR 87.36) per year.

M.Arch. in USA Highlights

Every year, plenty of students from all over the world apply for admission to top universities in the USA to complete their M.Arch degree. There are more than 100 universities in USA for masters in Architecture for international students. To get admission to Architecture courses in USA, students have to meet the entry requirements and submit the admission application by the deadline. The below table includes the highlights of M.Arch in the USA:

Particular	Stats
Number of Masters in Architecture Colleges in the USA	105+ (approx.)
Masters in Architecture Cost in the USA	1st Year Average Tuition Fee - INR 29.75 lakh Average Living Expenses - INR 8.79 lakh (Per Year)
Top Specializations	Architecture
Admission Process	Bachelor’s Degree + IELTS Score + Work Proof (if applicable) + Letters of Recommendation + Resume + Statement of Purpose (SOP)

Top-Ranked M.Arch Colleges in USA

Around 3 universities in USA for masters in Architecture rank under the top 10 MArch Universities in the world by QS World University Ranking in 2024. The table below includes the list of top-ranked M.Arch Colleges in USA with ranking in 2024:

Universities	QS Architecture Course Rank 2024
MIT USA	2
Harvard University	6
UC Berkeley Campus	9
Columbia University	16
UCLA	17
Cornell University	19
Georgia Tech	23
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	32
Stanford University	33
Princeton University	44

(Source: QS)

Best M.Arch Colleges in USA

MIT USA has maintained it's top position for best Architecture universities in USA for international students. The table below includes the list of best M.Arch colleges in USA for international students:

Universities	THE Architecture Course Rank 2025
MIT USA	2
Harvard University	3
Princeton University	4
UC Berkeley Campus	8
Yale University	10
University of Pennsylvania	14
Columbia University	18
UCLA	18
Cornell University	20
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	22

(Source: THE Ranking)

Top M.Arch Specializations in USA

There are two types of M.Arch. degrees that students can study at Universities in USA i.e., M.Arch. I and M.Arch. II. This master’s degree is available in only one specialization i.e. architecture.

Also read

Masters of Architecture in UK	Masters of Architecture in Canada
Masters of Architecture in Australia	Masters of Architecture in New Zealand

Cost of Studying M.Arch in USA

Students can easily get admission at Universities in the USA that offer a Master in Architecture program at an affordable tuition fee. Check below the cost of studying M.Arch in USA:

• 1st-year average tuition fees at universities in the USA is around INR 29.75 lakh.
• The average Cost of Living in USA for Indian students is around INR 2.5 L per month

Student Visa Cost for USA

Students who are looking to get admission to universities in the USA require a Visa. They need to apply for an F1 Student Visa to be admitted to the master’s program in the USA. The cost of a student visa for the USA is around INR 11,9000. Students can check the complete USA Students Visa Guide which will give an idea of the visa type available in the country.

M.Arch Requirements for USA – Eligibility Criteria

Admission to the M.Arch. program at popular universities in the USA is based on the criteria. These admission criteria may change according to the university and the location. We have mentioned below the common criteria for students who are looking to complete a Master’s in the USA in Architecture.

• Class 12th completion
• Undergraduate Degree in a related field 
• English Language Proficiency test scores 
• GRE or GMAT test scores
• SOP and LORs

Check the video below for GMAT vs GRE:

Work Permit after Studying M.Arch in USA

The USA is the most preferred destination for students to study and stay. Almost every student wants to work in the country after completing their degree. Students are required Post Study Work Permit in the USA and they need to meet all the criteria to get it.

M.Arch Scholarships USA

Universities in the USA have more than 190 scholarship programs for Master’s degrees. Students will get these scholarships based on some criteria mentioned by the universities. You can check below some of the popular Scholarships in the USA for students.

Narotam Sekhsaria’s Scholarships	Hani Zeini Scholarship
Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship	GyanDhan Scholarship

Check the video below for Best Scholarships for Indian Students in USA Part I:

M.Arch USA Jobs & Salaries

Students can find below some of the most popular job profiles and their average yearly salary package. Recruiters in the USA hire architects with multiple profiles and offer them better salary packages. The table below includes the M.Arch job profiles and average salary for graduates:

Job Profiles	Average Salary Packages Per Year
Architectural Designer	USD 55,757
Project Architect	USD 73,072
Design Architect	USD 63,241
Project Manager	USD 78,189
Intern Architect	USD 48,786

(Source: Payscale)

(Source: Indeed)

List of Top Publicly Funded Universities in USA

Publicly funded universities in the USA are the preferred choice of many foreign students. Every year, plenty of students apply for admission to these universities and complete their degrees. Check below some of the most popular publicly funded universities in the USA for foreign students:

Universities	1st Year Course Fee
Arizona State University	INR 30.8 L
Texas A & M University	INR 15.8 L
University of California - Berkeley Campus	INR 45.1 L
The University of Texas at Austin	INR 14.5 L
Georgia Institute of Technology	INR 25.7 L
University of South Florida	INR 27.8 L

(USD 1 = INR 87.36)

(Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Top Masters in Architecture Recruiters in USA

The top recruiters available in the USA hire Master of Architecture graduates and offer them a better salary package. Mentioned below are some of the popular recruiters with their salary packages that students get while working in the organization.

Recruiters	Salary Package Per Year
NVIDIA	USD 147,786 or INR 1.29 Cr
Fidelity Investments	USD 145,384 or INR 1.27 Cr
Jamy Interactive	USD 145,289 or INR 1.26 Cr
SAP	USD 143,375 or INR 1.25 Cr
Spectrum	USD 143,241 or INR 1.25 Cr

(USD 1 = INR 87.36)

(Source: Indeed)

Chandra Shekhar Singh Sengar10-01-2025 16:33