The Boston Architectural College began in 1889 as the Boston Architectural Club, a group of draughtsmen teaching each other in the evenings. That idea still shapes it. Many students work in design firms during the day and study at night, and that practice counts towards the degree. It's in Back Bay on Newbury Street, and it teaches architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture and design studies.
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Official website: the-bac.edu
1889, as the Boston Architectural Club
Newbury Street, Back Bay
NAAB-accredited architecture degrees
Study combined with practice in design firms
$24,000 – $32,000
International students, full-time academic year
$20,000 – $26,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on the-bac.edu before you apply.
Master of Architecture
Masters DegreeDuration
36-48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Bachelor of Architecture
Bachelors DegreeDuration
60 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
Master of Landscape Architecture
Masters DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Master of Interior Architecture
Masters DegreeDuration
24-36 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Work in design firms that counts towards the degree.
Studios on Newbury Street in Back Bay.
Evening classes built around professional practice.
Graduates leave with years of office experience as well as a degree.
Practice hours help architecture graduates move towards US licensure.
F-1 students should check how practice work fits CPT and OPT rules.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The college's buildings are where Newbury Street meets Massachusetts Avenue, next to Hynes Convention Center station on the Green Line. Back Bay's brownstones and the Charles River Esplanade are a short walk away.
Boston rents are high, and most students share apartments in Allston, Brighton or Somerville. Plan your budget carefully before you arrive.
Form I-20 issued by Boston Architectural College
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
The BAC admits on a rolling basis for fall and spring. International students should apply at least four months before the semester to allow time for the I-20. Graduate programmes may ask for a portfolio.
Most programmes start in fall or spring.
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from Boston Architectural College after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
Architecture, interior architecture and landscape architecture are the main programmes. Graduate entry needs a bachelor's degree and TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and undergraduates need secondary school completion. The practice component usually begins after the early studio work.
The BAC offers merit scholarships and some need-based grants, and its tuition is lower than at many US architecture schools. Ask admissions which awards are open to international students.
