Architectural Sciences and Technology at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

UMass Amherst's architectural sciences program launches graduates into nearly $65,000 first-year salaries—about $15,000 more than the typical architectural technology graduate nationally. With debt around $24,000, you're looking at a manageable 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates typically earn nearly three times what they owe. This 95th percentile national ranking is significant: only a handful of programs in this field achieve stronger early earnings outcomes.

The state picture adds nuance. While UMass sits at the 60th percentile among Massachusetts programs, this reflects the small number of schools offering architectural sciences in the state—you're comparing against just five other programs, not a broad field. The key is that Massachusetts programs collectively outperform the national market, and UMass delivers those strong state-level earnings at below-state-average debt levels.

For families considering this program, the fundamentals work: graduates earn enough in year one to reasonably manage their debt while entering a technical field with clear career pathways. The combination of a flagship state university's resources, competitive admission standards (SAT scores averaging 1393), and concrete employment outcomes makes this a straightforward value proposition in a field where many programs struggle to break $50,000 in early earnings.