The University of Southern California (USC) is a private university located in Los Angeles, California. The University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign (UIUC) is a public university located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign. The QS World University Rankings by subject 2020 – Architecture/Build Environment is given below –

• University of Southern California (USC) - #51 - 100
• University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign (UIUC) - #50
• Syracuse University - #101 – 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 – 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.

Syracuse was once a thriving city and Syracuse University was once considered a “party school”. Things have dialed down in the recent decades and though it may not be the “mad party” school, it still hosts many fraternity and sorority parties. This being a private university, charges a higher fee which translates to a uniformity, both in terms of behavior and looks, among the students attending the school. The “political correctness” being enforced today across universities, has also taken a toll on this university.

The most happening places in Syracuse happen to be Walnut Avenue and Euclid Avenue. Walnut Avenue is known for its greek life while Euclid Avenue is known for house parties. Various sporting clubs, student organizations and sometimes students themselves organize house parties which may or may not be your taste.

The loads of classes are dependent on the major you are doing. The iSchool expects lots of co-op projects in the labs which take a significant chunk of your time. The Whitman School of Business will involve a lot many individual tasks, group tasks, meetings etc. The Newhouse School of Communication students work almost single handedly in the Armory Square building. They do lots of TV, radio work and sometimes work for straight 24 hours to meet deadlines.

In terms of sports, basketball is the most widely played and followed sport here. The Carrier Dome is the mecca for basketball lovers. The Chuck’s Café, Faegan’s Pub, Lucy’s Retired Surfer Bar are some other places to hang out with friends.

And finally talking about the weather, the winter is torturous. It receives the amount of snowfall which is higher than the national average. Along with the winter, it is the chilly winds which sometimes can take a toll on your health.

So all in all, the university is full of character and you will enjoy every bit of your life here.

Syracuse University is a good school with brilliant professors. Several of the academic programs of the university are ranked as the best in the nation. Some of the most opted for courses of Syracuse University are Public Communications, Information Science, Physics, Entrepreneurship, Political Science, Communication, Business, Management, etc. 

The advantages of joining Syracuse University are as follows.

• Syracuse University ranking - 59 in National Universities by US News 2022, 351-400 by THE World University Ranking (2022). 
• It has a beautiful campus at the heart of New York State. 
• The university has a global footprint and more than 150 years of legacy. 
• It has more than a quarter-million alumni across 160 countries and a student crowd from all US states and 123 countries. So, the opportunities to network are endless.
• The professors are from all over the world with different experiences and qualifications. You will get to learn from some of the smartest people in the world. 
• Syracuse University graduates earn an average salary of around $71,470. 

The cons of joining the university are as below.

• Being a private university, it charges high course fees. The tuition fee is approximately around $74,486. The tuition fee along with the living expenses in New York can be a financial burden. 
• By attending Syracuse University, you will be forever leveled as ‘Orangeman’. 

Overall, it is a great university. Other than academics, SU offers an enjoyable social life. There are great sports teams, clubs, fraternities, and sororities that you can join.