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Featured Environmental Design & Architecture Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Finding the Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture School for You
Where you study environmental design & architecture affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
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Featured Environmental Design & Architecture Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in environmental design & architecture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools
Florida Atlantic University earned the #1 spot for value among environmental design & architecture schools in the United States. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $16,250. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $49,340. That is a strong return on a $16,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Students looking for strong value in environmental design & architecture will find it at The University Of Texas At San Antonio, which ranked #2. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $23,312. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $49,955 early in their careers. Set against $23,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earned it the #3 place for environmental design & architecture. Located in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,324 in tuition and fees. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earn a median of $24,881 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Utah State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $50,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,191 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Students looking for strong value in environmental design & architecture will find it at University Of Hawaii At Manoa, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $22,047. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $37,849. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #6 position for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of Memphis placed #7 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $26,315 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $48,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Arizona State University landed the #8 spot for environmental design & architecture value this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $20,500. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $37,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #9 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $25,759 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $59,622 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,759 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $25,153 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $54,076. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $60,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #12 spot for environmental design & architecture value this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. Set against $19,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
University At Buffalo landed the #13 spot for environmental design & architecture value this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $19,669. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $37,952. That is a strong return on a $19,669 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #14 for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $42,401. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #15 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $43,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 57 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.
[Environmental Design & Architecture](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/environmental-design-and-architecture/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong environmental design & architecture education at a price that pays off.
