The school of architecture has been ranked the 13th best undergraduate program in the nation by the architectural research organization DesignIntelligence. This is the highest ranking in the history of the School of Architecture. The DesignIntelligence Quarterly’s annual “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools” edition is the most sought-after publication in the U.S. for design school ratings. For this year’s rankings, hiring professionals from nearly 2,000 firms were asked to identify programs that are best preparing students for success in the profession.

They also were asked to consider 11 design education focus areas. Rensselaer was ranked 6th nationwide in “Engineering Fundamentals”; 9th in “Design Technologies,” “Construction Materials and Methods,” and “Interdisciplinary Studies”; and 10th in “Research.”

“It’s quite satisfying to know that the exceptional achievement of our students and faculty is being recognized nationally,” says Dean Evan Douglis. “I really believe we have one of the premier architecture programs today throughout the country. Given the pedagogical diversity of our faculty, our unique culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, our commitment to the study of architecture as the integration of art and science, our robust study abroad program providing our students with a life-changing cultural immersive experience, and our unwavering commitment to architecture as an important social project, the education of an architect here at Rensselaer is creatively and intellectually rigorous, experimental, comprehensive, and timely in response to a complex and changing world. I am confident we are preparing our students to become future leaders in the profession.”