2026 Best Value Architectural Sciences & Technology Schools in Illinois

[Architectural Sciences & Technology](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/architectural-sciences-and-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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for architectural sciences & technology students.
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2026 Best Value Architectural Sciences & Technology Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architectural sciences & technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Architectural Sciences & Technology Schools
Leading the list is City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College, our #1 best value for architectural sciences & technology in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,533 to complete the architectural sciences & technology program here. Soon after graduation, architectural sciences & technology degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $33,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural sciences & technology, landing the #2 spot this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $21,291 to complete the architectural sciences & technology program here. Architectural Sciences & Technology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $49,869 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Illinois Institute Of Technology earned it the #3 place for architectural sciences & technology. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Architectural Sciences & Technology graduates carry a median of $31,343 in student loans. Early-career architectural sciences & technology graduates make about $37,948. Set against $31,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago earned it the #4 place for architectural sciences & technology. Set in the city of Chicago, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,623. Typical student debt for architectural sciences & technology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, architectural sciences & technology degree recipients from School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago generally make around $38,205. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
More Architectural Sciences & Technology Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.