2027 Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for environmental design & architecture students.
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2027 Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the environmental design & architecture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools
University Of California Berkeley earned the #1 spot for value among environmental design & architecture schools in the United States. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $14,238. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $70,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $16,250. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. Set against $16,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras one of the best values 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. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $24,881. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras admits about 55% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #4 place for environmental design & architecture. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $26,315 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $48,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #5 place for environmental design & architecture. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $25,759 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $59,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Arizona State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $37,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in environmental design & architecture 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. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $49,983. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. 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%.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. In-state tuition and fees average $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Students borrow a median of $22,047 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $37,849 early in their careers. Set against $22,047 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.
Stony Brook University landed the #10 spot for environmental design & architecture value this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. The acceptance rate is 49%.
University At Buffalo came in at #11 for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $19,669. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $37,952 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,669 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Oregon landed the #12 spot for environmental design & architecture value this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,320, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,034 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $44,628 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,034 median debt. University Of Oregon admits about 88% of applicants.
Auburn University earned the #13 position for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $25,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $44,929. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #14 for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. 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. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $23,641. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $42,401. Set against $23,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Other Environmental Design & Architecture Degree Levels
Explore the best-value environmental design & architecture schools at other degree levels:
View All Environmental Design & Architecture Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
