College Update 2025
OUR STORY
As Gustave Eiffel reimagined the iconic Paris skyline and Van Gogh put vision to the magic of a Starry Night, the spirit of inspiration so alive in 1889 also gathered in Boston as the city’s architects launched a bold experiment set to redefine the very heart of education. No entrance exams; no pedigree required. Just a passion for design, for people, and grand potential. An idea and spirit that continues to define The Boston Architectural College (BAC).
Today, the BAC offers over 20 degrees and certificates across Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Design Studies. From day one, students blend classroom learning with professional practice at leading design firms so, by the time they graduate, they’ve already built careers.
We’ve ranked in Niche’s Top 10 architecture schools in the U.S. two years in a row the only independent design college alongside giants such as MIT and Yale. Our global community of 800 students and more than 10000 alums spans 54 countries reflecting
BAC AT A GLANCE
Who We Are
Founded: 1889
Location: Boston’s Back Bay
Mission: To offer accessible, practice-integrated design education that diversifies the next generation of designers and leaders
Model: Education embedded in professional practice
Academic Offerings
Undergraduate: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Design Studies
Graduate: Architecture (online & onsite), Interior Architecture, Landscape
Architecture, Design Studies
Continuing Education: Certificates, courses, workshops
Pre-College: Summer Academy, Urban Design and Planning, CityLab
Formats: Onsite, hybrid, and fully online
By the Numbers
Total Students: ~750
Countries Represented: 40+
~50% first-generation students; ~40% students of color
Average Class Size: 12
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Outcomes
96% of graduates employed at graduation
100% of bachelor’s graduates employed upon graduation
95% of master’s graduates employed upon graduation
$73,743 average starting salary (master’s)
45% of graduates in managerial roles
18% over new student enrollment goal (Fall 2025)
Practice-Based Learning
Students work in paid professional roles while studying
Integrated reflection, mentorship, and career coaching
Connections with 350+ design firms and organizations
BAC AT A GLANCE CONTINUED
Recognition
Ranked top 10 two years in a row by Niche for Best Architecture Colleges (2024, 2025)
Honorary alumni include Daniel Libeskind, Balkrishna Doshi, Billie Tsien, Moshe Safdie, Benedetta Tagliabue
Recent Milestones
951 Boylston Restoration – Phase 1 complete (Fall 2025)
Geothermal & Decarbonization Campaign launched for 320 Newbury
Trustee Leadership Conference launched
Enrollment and Continuing Education growth (+8%)
Alumni Network
5,000+ alumni globally
Active Alumni Advisory Council
Events: BAC Talks, Alumni Awards, Harbor Cruise
Mentorship, networking, and job opportunities
PRESIDENT MAHESH DAAS
Dr. Mahesh Daas, ACSA Distinguished Professor, serves as the eighth president of The Boston Architectural College (BAC) since 2019. With over thirty years of experience, he brings a dynamic blend of academic leadership, creative vision, and interdisciplinary scholarship to the institution Throughout his career, Dr Daas has held academic and leadership roles at prominent research universities in Indiana, Kansas, and Texas and at architectural firms in Chicago and Kansas City
As a designer, academic leader, author, speaker, poet, and technologist, Dr, Daas explores the evolving relationship between humanity, robotics, and artificial intelligence His mission to reimagine design education has earned wide recognition including a Boston Magazine profile titled “The BAC’s Mahesh Daas is on a Mission to Reinvent Design Education”
Dr Daas’s prolific interdisciplinary work has been featured in scholarly journals, refereed exhibitions, conference proceedings, federal publications, and academic books Most recently, he co-authored the graphic novella "I, Nobot" (Oro Editions 2023, with AJ Wit), which was fully illustrated by generative AI Other publications include "Towards a Robotic Architecture "(Oro Editions 2018, with AJ Wit) the first comprehensive book on robotics in architecture reframing and defining robotics research in architecture Additionally, he is also the author of the critically acclaimed book on academic leadership "Leading with Aesthetics: The Transformational Leadership of President Charles M Vest at MIT " (Lexington Books, 2015 & 2019)
Honored for his creative achievements, leadership, and innovative approaches to teaching, Dr Daas is a sought-after speaker at international conferences and academic forums He also hosts BAC Channel, where he engages with prominent thought leaders across the design and related industries, and is a monthly recurring contributor to GBH's The Culture Show
President Daas earned a Bachelor's of Architecture from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University inHyderabad, India; a Master of Science in Urban Design from Kansas State University; and an Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania He has received executive certificates in management from the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University
BAC TO THE FUTURE: OUR MISSION & VISION
The BAC’s mission is to provide excellence in design education emerging from practice and accessible to diverse communities
We envision the BAC as a global network, a cloud canopy with virtual roots reaching out to the curious, the creative, the ambitious, the exemplary traditional and nontraditional students irrespective of social identities and geographic location wherever they live in the world
We seek to build and sustain an articulated pipeline that propels students interested in design and architecture from K-12 systems and community colleges around the country into the robust and career-forward design education offered here at the BAC Moreover, we strive to replicate the BAC's educational innovations into models that are emulated across the higher education spectrum
We see the BAC becoming an epicenter for cutting-edge thought leadership and technological innovation to diversify and drive the design professions forward
OUR STUDENTS
Undergraduate Students Graduate Students
27% International Students
THE BAC DIFFERENCE
What Makes the BAC Different
Education Embedded in Practice
of architecture graduates are employed upon graduation
Students engage in real design work from the start. Practice is integrated into the curriculum not added on so students graduate with meaningful portfolios, fieldtested skills, and strong industry connections.
Flexible, Purpose-Built Programs
BAC meets students where they are. With evening, online, and hybrid options, the College supports working professionals, career-changers, and first-generation students without compromising rigor.
A Culture of Seriousness and Intentionality
BAC students arrive with purpose. Many balance jobs, family, and study creating a culture grounded in focus, resilience, and ambition.
Faculty Who Practice What They Teach
Courses are led by working professionals who bring current industry insight into the classroom. The result is an education that’s aligned with how the profession actually works.
Career Integration, Not Career Services
Career development is woven into every stage of the student journey. Advising, professional placements, and reflective practice prepare students for the realities of the field many begin working before they even graduate.
97%
BAC students are employed at partner firms including:
BAC ON THE RISE
TotalaidtoBACstudents2024-2025
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The BAC investigates spatial design in many forms, across architecture, landscapes, interiors, urban design, and special areas including sustainable design, human health, historic preservation, and real estate development
The BAC engages students and communities in practice-integrated design education to steward our planet and its resources through rapid changes We combine design theory and applied learning to prepare leaders who will seize opportunities to reimagine and reshape our built and natural environments
We strive for academic excellence through the achievements of our students, the expertise of our faculty, and the strength of our learningcentered programs The BAC education empowers changemakers and contributes to a more equitable, sustainable future for all
This is what we do.
- Kellie Bean, Ph.D. Vice President of Academic Affairs
OUR DEANS
School of Architecture
Karen Nelson Dean and Faculty
School of
Interior Architecture
Denise Rush, FASID, IIDA, IDEC Dean and Faculty
School of Design Studies
Don Hunsicker Dean and Faculty
School of Landscape Architecture
Margarita Iglesia Director and Faculty
Practice
Bethany I Lundell Garver, AIA, NCARB Dean and Faculty of Practice; Director of Applied Learning
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Architecture
Bachelor of Architecture
Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Online Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Master of Architecture
Interior Architecture
Bachelor of Interior Architecture
Master of Interior Architecture
Principles of Interior Design Certificate
Landscape Architecture
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Master of Landscape Architecture
Landscapes and Ecological Systems Certificate
Urban Landscapes Certificate
Design Studies
Bachelor of Design Studies
Master of Design Studies in Design for Human Health
Master of Design Studies in Historic Preservation
Master of Design Studies in Sustainable Design
Master of Design Studies in Real Estate Development
Digital Design and Visualization Certificate
Sustainable Design Certificate
Real Estate Development Certificate
Historic Preservation Certificate
ARCHITECTURAL LICENSURE
The BAC is one of 28 architecture schools in the U.S. and one of two in New England accepted into the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL).
The IPAL program is a structured experience allowing each student to complete requirements for architectural licensure while earning their degree. It incorporates NCARB's Architectural experience Program into our Master of Architecture curriculum, and students have the opportunity to take the Architect Registration Examination before graduation. This integrated approach helps you gain real-world experience, master essential skills, and enter the profession as a confident, credentialed leader.
All BAC students enrolled in the Bachelor of Architecture or the Master of Architecture degree programs who maintain good academic standing are eligible for IPAL. This program offers BAC students a structured and coordinated path to finishing their education, acquiring unparalleled work experience, and successfully completing their licensure exams. BAC graduates, no matter their backgrounds or experiences, all share a collective ambition: joining the best of the best on the fast track to licensure!
It has definitely elevated my position and given me a ton of confidence to be able to walk into a meeting and say, I am an architect, I deserve to be at this table.
-Joshua Thompson, M Arch'21
STUDENT SUPPORT
BAC’s student support is more than a resource it’s a reflection of our mission to expand access to excellence in design education. Our comprehensive network of academic, professional, and personal services, help students thrive in and beyond the classroom.
Academic and Learning Support
Advising Services – Personalized guidance for course planning, academic progress, and degree completion. Learning Resource Center – Tutoring in writing, ESL, math, physics, software (AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino), and portfolio development.
Writing Center – One-on-one support for papers, resumes, presentations, and design documentation.
Grading Ramp – A scaffolded introduction to the rigor of design education for new undergraduates.
Career and Practice Integration
Career Services – Individualized advising, resume/portfolio review, job and internship search assistance.
Professional Development – Workshops, networking events, career fairs, and exposure to industry leaders. Practice-Based Learning – Real-world experience embedded in BAC programs.
Global and Inclusive Community
International Student Services – Visa support, cultural adjustment resources, and employment guidance (CPT/OPT).
Student Life – 15+ student organizations, communitybuilding events, and leadership opportunities.
Library and Research
Print and digital collections, research tools, and design-focused academic support.
Access & Affordability
Scholarships, grants, loans, work-study, and other benefits to support economic access.
ALUMNI NETWORK & PHILANTHROPY
The BAC’s alumni network is a vital extension of its mission spanning generations, disciplines, and geographies. With over 5,000 alumni across the U.S. and abroad, the network engages through signature events like BAC Talks, the Alumni and Friends Awards, and annual gatherings such as the Harbor Cruise. The Alumni Advisory Council, composed of elected graduates, serves as a strategic partner to College leadership, offering feedback, expanding outreach, and supporting initiatives that strengthen alumni-student connections.
Communication flows through the BAC Connect newsletter, a dedicated LinkedIn presence, and an active private Facebook group. Alumni contribute in a variety of ways from mentoring current students and speaking at events to nominating peers for awards and posting job opportunities. Whether through professional collaboration or philanthropic support, BAC alumni play an ongoing role in advancing the College’s mission and extending its impact in the design professions.
Investing in the BAC
Philanthropy continues to underpin the BAC’s mission fueling innovation, cultivating inclusive learning environments, and preserving our historic and practice-based model of design education
“Iamproudtosayitisthegenerosity
Robert Henry, BArch student
Where We Are Investing Today
The Campaign for the Campus is our transformative effort to upgrade and reimagine our built environment:
Restoring 951 Boylston as a functional and inspiring learning hub. Installing a geothermal system at 320 Newbury to reduce our carbon footprint and align with sustainable design.
Creating campus spaces that are living laboratories enhancing both access and impact.
Gift investments also support:
The BAC Fund – flexible support for technology, curriculum, student services, and faculty.
Pre‐College Design Access – enabling younger students to attend BAC summer programs regardless of financial means. Scholarships – fostering equitable access across all academic programs. President’s Innovation Fund – supporting student groups, new initiatives, and emerging opportunities.
How You Can Make a Difference
Dean Arcangelo Cascieri Society Donor Society Overview
The Dean Arcangelo Cascieri Society honors donors whose generosity reflects the spirit of a teacher, sculptor, and visionary. Members of this society have made gifts of $100,000 or more, fueling the next generation of design leaders. Named for Dean Cascieri (1902–1997), who led the BAC for nearly 60 years, the society celebrates donors who build through relationships shaping lives as much as buildings, and investing in the power of education grounded in practice and purpose
Somerset Leadership Society
Recognizes annual gifts of $1,000 or more a nod to leadership and commitment Members receive exclusive event invitations, updates from College leadership, and are recognized in the annual Contributors Report
1889 Legacy Society
Honors those who leave a lasting legacy through bequests, estate gifts, or insurance designations Members are invited to private gatherings and acknowledged for their long-term support
In summary, philanthropy powers the BAC’s ability to innovate, sustain, and lead Through targeted campaigns, flexible funds, and dedicated giving societies, donors are shaping not just buildings but futures
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