2027 Best Value Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/architectural-sciences-and-technology/architectural-and-building-sciences-technology/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value architectural & building sciences/technology schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architectural & building sciences/technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology Schools
For return on investment in architectural & building sciences/technology, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the architectural & building sciences/technology program here. Soon after graduation, architectural & building sciences/technology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $56,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for architectural & building sciences/technology. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural & building sciences/technology graduates is $21,291. Early-career architectural & building sciences/technology graduates make about $49,869. That is a strong return on a $21,291 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Andrews University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural & building sciences/technology schools. Located in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,056. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the architectural & building sciences/technology program here. Soon after graduation, architectural & building sciences/technology degree recipients from Andrews University generally make around $62,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Ball State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural & building sciences/technology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete the architectural & building sciences/technology program here. Early-career architectural & building sciences/technology graduates make about $47,863. Set against $24,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Detroit Mercy earned it the #5 place for architectural & building sciences/technology. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,946. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $76,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #6 position for value in architectural & building sciences/technology this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for architectural & building sciences/technology graduates is $26,657. Soon after graduation, architectural & building sciences/technology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $56,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for architectural & building sciences/technology value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the architectural & building sciences/technology program here. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,053 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural & building sciences/technology schools. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates carry a median of $31,343 in student loans. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $37,948 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,343 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #9 for value in architectural & building sciences/technology this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,776 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for architectural & building sciences/technology. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for architectural & building sciences/technology graduates is $23,530. Early-career architectural & building sciences/technology graduates make about $59,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford came in at #11 for value in architectural & building sciences/technology this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Typical student debt for architectural & building sciences/technology graduates is $24,177. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Set against $24,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Lawrence Technological University placed #12 among the best values for architectural & building sciences/technology. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,760. Typical student debt for architectural & building sciences/technology graduates is $27,799. Soon after graduation, architectural & building sciences/technology degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $57,098. That is a strong return on a $27,799 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Narrow Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology Schools by State
More Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology Rankings
View All Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.