[Architectural History](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/architectural-history/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value architectural history schools.
Finding the Best Value Architectural History School for You
Where you study architectural history affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Architectural History Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Architectural History Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Boston University tops our 2026 list of the best value architectural history schools in the United States. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the architectural history program here. Soon after graduation, architectural history degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of San Diego earned it the #2 place for architectural history. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $59,486. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete the architectural history program here. Soon after graduation, architectural history degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $68,281. That is a strong return on a $23,795 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Northeastern University one of the best values for architectural history. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Architectural History graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans. Early-career architectural history graduates make about $74,800. Set against $25,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Architectural History](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/architectural-history/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
