Is ASU or Cal Poly Pomona better for studying architecture?

For a student who wants the most direct undergraduate route into architectural practice and eventual licensure, Cal Poly Pomona is the stronger choice. Its five-year Bachelor of Architecture is a professional degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, while ASU’s undergraduate architectural studies path is preprofessional and typically requires a later Master of Architecture for the standard accredited-degree route. Cal Poly Pomona’s polytechnic emphasis also gives the program a notably hands-on, applied character.

ASU’s Design School can be compelling for students who want a broader, more flexible undergraduate experience before deciding whether to pursue architecture at the graduate level. Its architectural studies program can provide a strong design foundation, and ASU has a NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture, but it is a longer educational sequence for someone already certain about becoming a licensed architect.

ASU offers access to the Phoenix-area design community and a larger university environment, while Cal Poly Pomona’s professional B.Arch structure makes its preparation more immediately targeted to the architecture profession.