Should I choose USC, UIUC, or Syracuse University for my undergraduate study of architecture?

Question

Accepted Answer

The University of Southern California (USC) is a private university located in Los Angeles, California. The University of Illinois at Urbana &ndash; Champaign (UIUC) is a public university located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign. The QS World University Rankings by subject 2020 &ndash; Architecture/Build Environment is given below &ndash;


	University of Southern California (USC) - #51 - 100
	University of Illinois at Urbana &ndash; Champaign (UIUC) - #50
	Syracuse University - #101 &ndash; 150


The rankings tell you one thing and the experience of the students another. The reputation and the number of graduates from the USC School of Architecture and Syracuse University School of Architecture are far more than the graduates from the Illinois School of Architecture &ndash; UIUC.

All these programs are quite close in terms of rankings as well. So academically you cannot go wrong with any of these three schools. Yet USC and Syracuse University still hold a little edge.

Your choice should also depend upon the area you want to settle down after graduating. USC is located on the west coast, UIUC in the midwest and Syracuse University on the east coast. If you want to work in New York, choose Syracuse University. If you want to work in California or Los Angeles, choose USC. It is not that they are not known nationally, but most of the hiring managers, some of whom may be alumni, are located in companies closer to the university itself, thus a better chance of getting employed in that region.

Also some may prefer the quiet regions of upstate New York or Illinois while some may marvel at the architectural designs in and around the city of Los Angeles. This is strictly a personal choice. Also factor in the huge and ever growing alumni network of USC, which makes it a compelling choice.

If you combine all these factors, then University of Southern California (USC) emerges as a clear winner among the three for studying architecture.

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Housing and Food	₹ 5.32 Lakhs	USD 5918
Total Cost	₹ 5.32 Lakhs	USD 5918

Academic Year	Tuition Fees (INR)	Tuition Fees (USD)
2024	₹ 44.51 Lakhs	USD 49500
2023	₹ 26.11 Lakhs	USD 29034

University	Program	First Year Fees in USD	First Year Fees in INR
University of Illinois	L.L.M Business and Law	USD 49,500 /Yr	INR 44.5 L/Yr
University of Wisconsin	M.S Civil and Environmental Engineering	USD 25,732 /Yr	INR 23.1 L/Yr

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Master of Laws [L.L.M] [Technology and Intellectual Property] From University of Illinois

Master of Laws [L.L.M] (Technology and Intellectual Property)

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L.L.M Business and Law, University of Illinois 1 year	--	INR 47 L/Yr USD 49,500 /Yr	TOEFL: 104 IELTS: 6 Duolingo: 135
M.S Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin 2 years	~~Application Deadline for Spring 2027 Intake (1st Sep 2026)~~ Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake (15th Dec 2026) Application Deadline for Summer 2027 Intake (15th Dec 2026)	INR 24.4 L/Yr USD 25,732 /Yr	TOEFL: 5 IELTS: 7 Duolingo: 125