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Major · Engineering

An ABET-accredited bachelor’s for building-systems engineering

Architectural Engineering (CIP 14.0401) prepares students for engineering work on building systems — structural, mechanical, electrical, and lighting. About 901 students complete it across 29 institutions, exclusively as bachelor’s programs, with five-year graduates earning around $87,134.

Schools offering
29
Annual completions
901
Typical degree level
Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$87k

About this major

Architectural Engineering (CIP 14.0401) is a specialized ABET-accredited engineering bachelor’s preparing students for engineering work on building systems — structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and lighting. The CIP definition organizes coursework around applying mathematical and scientific principles to design, develop, and evaluate the materials, systems, and methods used to construct and equip buildings. Programs cover the same engineering fundamentals as other ABET majors (statics, dynamics, materials, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics) and then specialize in building applications: structural engineering for buildings, HVAC and plumbing systems, electrical and lighting design, construction management, and building acoustics. The major is distinct from Architecture (CIP 04.0201), which leads to architect licensure rather than engineering licensure.

The major fits students drawn to the technical and quantitative side of how buildings actually work, comfortable with calculus, physics, and computational design tools (Revit, AutoCAD, energy-modeling software). It rewards systems thinking, mechanical aptitude, and the patience to learn building codes and stamp-and-seal regulatory practice. The career path runs from junior building-systems or MEP engineer roles into licensed PE positions and into senior engineering or project-management work at AEC firms. PE licensure typically arrives at five to seven years and drives meaningful pay increases.

One grounded observation about scale and pay: 901 students complete this CIP across only 29 institutions — Architectural Engineering is one of the smaller named engineering disciplines, but Auburn (160 graduates, 18% of national output), Penn State (110), and UT Austin (56) anchor a strong program tier. Bachelor’s graduates earn $87,134 in five-year tracked wages, competitive with civil and mechanical engineering early-career pay. The named labor-market destinations are bachelor’s-tier engineering roles: engineers, all other ($117,750, 2.1% growth) at entry, with architectural and engineering managers ($167,740, 3.8% growth) as a mid-career outcome reachable after PE licensure and team-leadership experience.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Architectural and engineering managers $168k +3.8% Bachelor's degree
Engineers, all other $118k +2.1% Bachelor's degree
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106k +8.1% Doctoral or professional degree
Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101k +2.0% Doctoral or professional degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$87k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you’re drawn to the technical side of how buildings actually work — structural loads, HVAC and plumbing, electrical and lighting systems, building codes — and comfortable with the calculus, physics, and engineering-fundamentals load that ABET-accredited programs require, you’re strategic about getting into one of the 29 schools offering this CIP (Auburn, Penn State, UT Austin, Cal Poly SLO, Texas A&M, Drexel, Cincinnati, Kansas State are anchor programs), you’re planning for the FE-then-PE licensure ladder that drives engineering pay, and you can see yourself working at AEC firms collaborating closely with architects.

Think twice if your school doesn’t offer a dedicated, ABET-accredited Architectural Engineering program — Civil Engineering, General (CIP 14.0801, 13,488 completions) covers building structural work and is available at far more schools, with similar PE-licensure outcomes. Reconsider if you’re drawn to building design (form, space, aesthetics) rather than building engineering (loads, systems, codes) — that’s Architecture (CIP 04.0201), a different licensing path. Also pause if you saw the $167,740 manager wage and assumed it’s entry-level; that’s a mid-career outcome reached after PE licensure and team-leadership experience.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Architectural Engineering

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Auburn University Auburn, AL 0 160 160
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 0 110 110
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 0 56 56
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA 0 44 44
Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX 0 44 44
North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC 0 39 39
Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MO 0 38 38
Drexel University Philadelphia, PA 0 37 37
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH 0 34 34
Kansas State University Manhattan, KS 0 33 33
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Mechanical Engineering

33,431 completions/yr

Electrical and Electronics Engineering

14,891 completions/yr

Civil Engineering, General

13,488 completions/yr

Computer Engineering, General

9,312 completions/yr

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering

8,569 completions/yr

Chemical Engineering

7,914 completions/yr

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General

6,386 completions/yr

Engineering, General

5,416 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do Architectural Engineering majors actually study?
The CIP definition organizes coursework around applying mathematical and scientific principles to design, develop, and evaluate the materials, systems, and methods used to construct and equip buildings. In practice, programs focus on structural engineering for buildings, building mechanical systems (HVAC and plumbing), building electrical and lighting design, construction management, and acoustics. Students take the same engineering fundamentals (statics, dynamics, materials, thermodynamics) as other ABET-accredited engineering majors, then specialize in building-systems applications.
How is this different from Architecture?
Architecture (CIP 04.0201) is the design discipline focused on form, space, aesthetics, building program, and licensure as an architect. Architectural Engineering (14.0401) is the engineering discipline focused on the structural, mechanical, electrical, and lighting systems that make buildings work, with PE engineering licensure. Architects sketch buildings; architectural engineers calculate the loads, design the HVAC and electrical systems, and stamp drawings as licensed engineers. The two fields collaborate closely on building projects, and some firms employ both.
What jobs do graduates land — and at what pay?
Named destinations include architectural and engineering managers ($167,740, 3.8% growth — a mid-career outcome), engineers, all other ($117,750, 2.1% growth, bachelor’s typical), and engineering teachers, postsecondary ($106,120, doctoral typical). Graduates at the bachelor’s level enter as building-systems engineers, structural engineers, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) engineers, or commissioning engineers at AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) firms. The packet shows bachelor’s graduates at $87,134 in five-year tracked wages — competitive with civil and mechanical engineering early-career pay.
Do I need to take the FE and PE exams?
Yes if you want to stamp drawings or carry the engineer title in regulated practice. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is typically taken senior year of an ABET-accredited program, certifying you as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT). After four years of supervised engineering experience, you sit for the Professional Engineer (PE) exam in your state and discipline. PE licensure is the gate for sealing engineering drawings on building projects. Most architectural-engineering employers expect EIT at hire and PE within five to seven years.
Why do only 29 schools offer this CIP?
Architectural Engineering is a specialized ABET-accredited discipline that requires its own curriculum and faculty separate from Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. Auburn (160 graduates, 18% of national output), Penn State (110), and the University of Texas at Austin (56) anchor the program list, with strong programs at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Texas A&M, NC A&T State, and Missouri University of Science and Technology. Most engineering schools cover building-systems work through Civil Engineering, General (CIP 14.0801, 13,488 completions) or Mechanical Engineering — choose 14.0401 only if your target school offers a dedicated, ABET-accredited architectural engineering program.
How does this compare to Civil Engineering?
Civil Engineering, General (CIP 14.0801, 13,488 completions) is roughly 15 times larger and broader, covering transportation, structures, geotechnical, water resources, environmental, and construction tracks. Architectural Engineering narrows in on the building side specifically — structural, MEP, and lighting systems for buildings rather than infrastructure. Both lead to PE licensure and overlap on structural building work. Choose Civil if you want flexibility across infrastructure and want a major available at most engineering schools; choose Architectural Engineering if buildings are your firm target and your school offers it.