Architecture Program Ranks Nationally

By B. J. Almond

Rice University’s School of Architecture’s graduate program placed seventh—ahead of such prestigious schools as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale, and Princeton—in the 2006 national ranking of architecture schools by DesignIntelligence for the Design Futures Council. Last year, Rice’s graduate program was No. 9 nationally.

Rice’s undergraduate program in architecture maintained its No. 3 spot from last year in a tie with California Polytechnic State University—right behind No. 1-ranked Cornell University and No. 2-ranked University of Texas at Austin.

The rankings were determined by a survey of more than 400 U.S. architecture firms and organizations of various sizes. In reference to graduates hired over the past five years, the survey participants were asked which schools best prepared students for real-world practice. Only schools accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board were eligible.

For more information on the rankings, visit www.di.net.