2027 Best Value Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/architectural-sciences-and-technology/architectural-and-building-sciences-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value architectural & building sciences/technology schools.
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2027 Best Value Architectural & Building Sciences/Technology Schools in the The Plains States 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
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best value for a degree in architectural & building sciences/technology in the The Plains States Region. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for architectural & building sciences/technology graduates is $21,577. Early-career architectural & building sciences/technology graduates make about $55,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural & building sciences/technology schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete the architectural & building sciences/technology program here. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Kansas came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural & building sciences/technology schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Typical student debt for architectural & building sciences/technology graduates is $23,608. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $61,511 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural & building sciences/technology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural & building sciences/technology graduates is $31,000. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $57,928 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in architectural & building sciences/technology will find it at Kansas State University, which ranked #5. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Early-career architectural & building sciences/technology graduates make about $51,543. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
South Dakota State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural & building sciences/technology schools. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the architectural & building sciences/technology program here. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #7 among the best values for architectural & building sciences/technology. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Early-career architectural & building sciences/technology graduates make about $53,134. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis placed #8 among the best values for architectural & building sciences/technology. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the architectural & building sciences/technology program here. Early-career architectural & building sciences/technology graduates make about $61,564. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
Dunwoody College Of Technology ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural & building sciences/technology schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,477. Architectural & Building Sciences/technology graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural & building sciences/technology degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology generally make around $44,690. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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Notes and References
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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.