[Architectural History](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/architectural-history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for architectural history students.
Finding the Best Value Architectural History School for You
The architectural history program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Architectural History Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Oklahoma State University Main Campus, our #1 best value for architectural history in the United States. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete the architectural history program here. Soon after graduation, architectural history degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $50,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural history, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Architectural History graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Early-career architectural history graduates make about $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kent State University At Kent earned it the #3 place for architectural history. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the architectural history program here. Soon after graduation, architectural history degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in architectural history will find it at Boston University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Typical student debt for architectural history graduates is $25,232. Early-career architectural history graduates make about $63,598. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in architectural history will find it at Smith College, which ranked #5. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,178. Architectural History graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans. Early-career architectural history graduates make about $40,436. That is a strong return on a $18,941 median debt. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
University Of San Diego came in at #6 for value in architectural history this year. 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. Set against $23,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of San Diego admits about 52% of applicants.
Northeastern University placed #7 among the best values for architectural history. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Typical student debt for architectural history graduates is $25,611. Architectural History graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $74,800 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,611 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
