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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
Our analysis ranked Florida Atlantic University the best value for a degree in environmental design & architecture in the United States. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans. 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 University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, which ranked #2. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public school located in the city of San Juan. Students from in state pay about $5,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $5,500. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah State University earned it the #3 place for environmental design & architecture. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $16,191. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $50,348. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental design & architecture, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $22,047 in student loans. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $37,849 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for environmental design & architecture. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $70,847. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis came in at #6 for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $48,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Arizona State University placed #7 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $20,500. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $37,226 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #8 for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. 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. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $25,153. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $54,076. Set against $25,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Stony Brook University placed #10 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo earned the #12 position for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $19,669. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $37,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #13 for value in environmental design & architecture this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $42,401 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $43,843. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Auburn University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $25,375. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $44,929 early in their careers. Set against $25,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong environmental design & architecture education at a price that pays off.
