If you love to be outside, you enjoy working with your hands, and you have a creative vision, landscape architecture might be the right major for you. Landscape architects design outdoor spaces, from private yards to large public squares. In a landscape architecture design program, students study plants, learn to use computer design programs, and work with master gardeners and architects to come up with designs that complement existing buildings and other natural features.
Students interested in studying landscape architecture will need to approach their college search carefully, because this major is relatively uncommon at four-year colleges. Read on to learn more about getting into a landscape architecture program and to view a complete list of all U.S. colleges that offer a landscape architecture major.
Why Major in Landscape Architecture Design?
Landscape architecture design can be a fulfilling career that provides a great work-life balance. You might get to design large urban parks, work with homeowners to create the backyard of their dreams, or help restore wetlands or other natural habitats. You’ll spend part of your days outside, visiting sites and meeting with landowners and landscaping teams, and the rest of your time at your computer creating plans and transforming them into 3D models.
Landscape architecture also promises solid job security and a decent earning potential. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that land architecture has a projected job growth of 6% by 2026, which is in line with the national average for all occupations. The BLS also reports that the median annual salary for a landscape architect is $68,230, which is above the national average income.
In addition to a degree, all states require that landscape architects be licensed. These requirements vary from state to state, but the most common requirements for licensure include at least a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture, a minimum number of internship hours, and a passing score on the Landscape Architect Registration Examination.
How to Get Into a Landscape Architecture Design Program
College admissions are becoming increasingly competitive, so planning ahead for any college degree is important. You’ll want to create a profile as an applicant that shows your skills across a broad range of subject matter while highlighting areas specific to your intended major. If you want to optimize your chances of admission to a Landscape Architecture Design program, here are our top tips.
Take Classes in the Sciences and Arts. Landscape architecture design uniquely blends creativity and STEM fieldwork. You can prepare for it by taking classes in both the STEM fields and in the arts. Classes like AP Environmental Science and AP Art History are particularly good preparation for this major—and might even allow you to place out of lower level prerequisites when you begin your degree.
Get Your Hands Dirty in Extracurriculars. Many landscape architects begin as landscapers themselves. This provides the hands on experience necessary to understand the design process from start to finish. You can get a head start in high school by working as a landscaper, starting your own lawn mowing business, or joining a local gardening club. Establish your green thumb now to impress the admissions committee.
What Colleges Offer a Landscape Architecture Design Major?
Andrews University
Appalachian State University
Arizona State University
Auburn University
Ball State University | BSU
Brigham Young University | BYU
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Cal Poly Pomona
Clemson University
Colorado State University | CSU
Cornell University
Delaware Valley University | DelVal
Farmingdale State College | SUNY Farmingdale
Florida International University | FIU
Illinois State University | ISU
Michigan State University
Mississippi State University | MSU
North Carolina A&T State University | N.C. A&T
North Carolina State University | NC State
Northern Arizona University | NAU
Northwestern Michigan College | NMC
Paul Smith’s College
Pennsylvania State University | PSU
Rutgers University–New Brunswick | Rutgers
South Dakota State University
South Seattle College | SSC
Southern Illinois University Carbondale | SIU
Temple University
The Ohio State University | OSU
Thomas Jefferson University
University of Arizona
University of California, Berkeley | UC Berkeley
University of California, Davis | UC Davis
University of Cincinnati
University of Delaware
University of Georgia
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | UIUC
University of Maine
University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland
University of Massachusetts Amherst | UMass Amherst
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Minnesota
University of Nebraska–Lincoln | UNL
University of Nevada, Las Vegas | UNLV
University of Oregon
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison | Wisconsin
Utah State University
Virginia Tech
Washington State University | WSU
West Virginia University | WVU
Western Michigan University | WMU
As an aspiring landscape architect, you won’t have the same lengthy list of college choices as students who choose more common majors. Still, you’ll want to be no less careful in narrowing down your college list. Begin by looking at your own priorities. You’ll want to consider things like geographic location, student demographics, campus resources, and cost. As you whittle down your college list, you’ll also look at admissions statistics to figure out how your test scores and GPA stack up to those of admitted students.
Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!
