Cornell University Architecture Program No. 1

Cornell’s B.Arch. program received top ranking in the annual survey conducted by DesignIntelligence (DI). The 2009 list marks the fourth time in the past five years that the Cornell program has been ranked number one of the top 20 architecture programs in the U.S. In 2008 the undergraduate program was ranked number two.

The M.Arch. program was ranked number six out of the top graduate architecture programs. The five-year old graduate architecture program has placed in the top 20 for the past three years.

The rankings were based on a survey conducted at more than 200 architecture firms and organizations in the U.S. These leading firms were asked about which academic programs best prepare students for professional practice. Those surveyed have direct experience hiring and evaluating the performance of recent architect graduates.

More than 900 architecture students were also surveyed about their satisfaction with their educational programs.

The publication also lists the best schools for interior design and landscape architecture. Cornell’s interior design program received high marks ranking number four out of ten for the undergraduate program and number three for the graduate program. Cornell’s landscape architecture program ranked number five for both the undergraduate and graduate programs.

DI also introduced the Cramer Report: America’s World Class Schools of Architecture. This report notes architecture programs that have distinguished themselves based on specific criteria including: ranking by professional practices, rankings by deans and chairs, student evaluations, and program accreditation. The Cornell architecture program placed in the top category ‘With Highest Distinction’ with a score of 474 out of a possible 485 points.

Rankings of the top 20 architecture programs for 2009 from the DI survey:

Undergraduate

1. Cornell University
2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
3. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
4. Rhode Island School of Design
4. Syracuse University
6. University of Texas at Austin
7. Carnegie Mellon University
8. Rice University
9. Boston Architectural College
10. University of Notre Dame
11. Pennsylvania State University
12. Auburn University
12. Illinois Institute of Technology
12. Iowa State University
12. Pratt Institute
12. University of Arizona
12. University of Southern California
18. University of Oregon
19. Southern California Institute of Architecture
20. Cooper Union
20. Oklahoma State University
20. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
20. University of Arkansas

Graduate

1. Harvard University
2. University of Cincinnati
3. Columbia University
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
4. Yale University
6. Cornell University (M.Arch. candidate)
6. Washington University in St. Louis
6. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
9. University of Michigan
9. University of Texas at Austin
11. Clemson University
11. Kansas State University
11. Princeton University
11. Texas A&M University
11. University of Virginia
16. Rice University
17. Georgia Institute of Technology
17. University of California at Berkeley
19. Rhode Island School of Design
19. Syracuse University