Architecture at Keene State College

Keene State's architecture program stands as New Hampshire's only option for this degree, which makes comparison tricky—but the numbers tell a straightforward story. Starting salaries of $43,448 lag behind the national median by about $3,600, and even after four years, graduates earn $53,850, roughly matching what typical architecture grads make nationally right out of school. At the 39th percentile nationally, this program underperforms most of its peers across the country.

The $27,000 median debt is exactly average for architecture programs, yielding a manageable 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates need about seven months of gross income to cover their debt—not terrible, but the real concern is whether those earnings justify entering a field known for demanding hours and requiring eventual licensure. The 24% earnings growth over four years shows typical early-career progression, yet many graduates will likely need graduate school to advance in architecture, adding more debt to the equation.

For New Hampshire families committed to staying in-state, this is your only architecture option. For everyone else, the below-average starting salaries combined with architecture's long credential path suggest exploring stronger programs elsewhere—or questioning whether the financial return justifies the career choice at all.