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

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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.

Expense Type	Average Cost (INR)	Equivalent (USD)
Tuition Fee	₹ 44.73 Lakhs	USD 49742
Application Fee	₹ 6,744	USD 75

Expense Type	Average Cost (INR)	Equivalent (USD)
Food & Housing	₹ 13.65 Lakhs	USD 15184
Books and supply	₹ 1.08 Lakhs	USD 1200
Other Fees	₹ 2.55 Lakhs	USD 2840
Total Cost	₹ 17.29 Lakhs	USD 19224

Category	Details
School	The Grainger College of Engineering
Credits Hours	128
Academic Requirement	Submit proof of CSE and CCE certificate, or provincial Standard X exam certificate ISC or Standard XII exam certificate School mark sheet for grades 9 to 12 (only if you attend a school that doesn't follow the Indian school system)
English Language Proficiency Score	TOEFL: 80 IELTS: 6.5 DET: 120
Documents Required	Online Application Form Statement of Purpose (Determines your eligibility for the admission) Transcript (Academic) English Language Proficiency Score (TOEFL \| IELTS \| PTE) 3 Letter of Recommendation (A recommendation letter from a supervisor or manager) CV/Resume Description of Research
Application Fee	75
Application Link	Application Link

Head	Avg Cost Per Year
Food & Housing	₹1410290 (USD 15184)
Books and supply	₹111456 (USD 1200)

	University of Illinois (B.S Computer Engineering)	Ohio State University (B.S Computer Science and Engineering)
ranking	# 20 for Engineering by Collegedunia.com 2026 # 26 for Engineering by QS World University 2026 # 8 for Engineering by US News 2025	# 81 for Engineering by Collegedunia.com 2026 # 180 for Engineering by QS World University 2026 # 27 for Engineering by US News 2025
cost to study	Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -INR 4620036.96	Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -INR 3383618.4
application dates	Jan 5, 2026 (Regular Decision Application Deadline For 2025 Intake) Nov 1, 2025 (Early Action Application Deadline For 2025 Intake)	Nov 1, 2024 (Early Action Application Deadline) Feb 1, 2025 (Regular Decision Application Deadline)
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