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

[Architectural Sciences & Technology](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/architectural-sciences-and-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong architectural sciences & technology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value architectural sciences & technology schools.
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2027 Best Value Architectural Sciences & Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in architectural sciences & technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Architectural Sciences & Technology Schools
Joliet Junior College tops our 2027 list of the best value architectural sciences & technology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for architectural sciences & technology graduates is $11,995. Early-career architectural sciences & technology graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in architectural sciences & technology will find it at City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural sciences & technology graduates is $11,533. Soon after graduation, architectural sciences & technology degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $33,960. Set against $11,533 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #3 place for architectural sciences & technology. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the architectural sciences & technology program here. Soon after graduation, architectural sciences & technology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $56,856. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for architectural sciences & technology. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural sciences & technology graduates is $21,291. Architectural Sciences & Technology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $49,869 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,291 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Andrews University one of the best values for architectural sciences & technology. Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berrien Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $35,056. Typical student debt for architectural sciences & technology graduates is $26,314. Early-career architectural sciences & technology graduates make about $62,634. That is a strong return on a $26,314 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University placed #6 among the best values for architectural sciences & technology. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Architectural Sciences & Technology graduates carry a median of $24,518 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural sciences & technology degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $47,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Detroit Mercy ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural sciences & technology schools. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $32,946 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete the architectural sciences & technology program here. Soon after graduation, architectural sciences & technology degree recipients from University Of Detroit Mercy generally make around $76,755. That is a strong return on a $29,053 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #8 among the best values for architectural sciences & technology. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for architectural sciences & technology graduates is $26,657. Early-career architectural sciences & technology graduates make about $56,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in architectural sciences & technology this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the architectural sciences & technology program here. Architectural 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. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for value in architectural sciences & technology this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Students borrow a median of $31,343 to complete the architectural sciences & technology program here. Early-career architectural sciences & technology graduates make about $37,948. That is a strong return on a $31,343 median debt. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent placed #11 among the best values for architectural sciences & technology. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the architectural sciences & technology program here. Early-career architectural sciences & technology graduates make about $44,776. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural sciences & technology schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the architectural sciences & technology program here. Soon after graduation, architectural sciences & technology degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $59,001. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Miami University Oxford placed #13 among the best values for architectural sciences & technology. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the architectural sciences & technology program here. Architectural 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 earned the #14 position for value in architectural sciences & technology this year. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,760 in tuition and fees. Architectural Sciences & Technology graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans. Early-career architectural sciences & technology graduates make about $57,098. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.