Architecture at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

UCD's architecture program starts graduates well below the national median—$37,707 versus $47,046—but that first-year figure tells an incomplete story. By year four, earnings jump 54% to $58,077, surpassing the national median and even exceeding what top-quartile architecture programs nationally deliver ($53,079). That trajectory matters because architecture is notoriously difficult in the early years, when many graduates work long hours for modest pay while gaining licensure credentials.

The $23,000 debt load works in this program's favor, sitting below both national and state medians. A 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable even during those lean first years, and as salaries climb, that burden shrinks quickly. Within Colorado, this is the only architecture bachelor's program reporting data, so comparisons are limited, but the combination of reasonable debt and strong mid-career earnings suggests the program delivers solid preparation without crushing financial pressure.

The tradeoff here is patience. Your child will likely earn less than architecture grads from higher-ranked programs initially, but the earnings growth rate indicates the program produces architects who become competitive quickly. If your student is committed to the field and comfortable with the typical architecture career arc—sacrificing early income for professional development—this represents a financially sensible path into the profession.