[Environmental Design](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value environmental design schools.
Finding the Best Value Environmental Design School for You
The environmental design program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Environmental Design 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.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Environmental Design Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the best value for a degree in environmental design in the United States. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $14,238. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #2 place for environmental design. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $49,340. Set against $16,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental design, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $48,890. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental design schools. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public school located in the city of San Juan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,324. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $5,500. Early-career environmental design graduates make about $24,881. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras admits about 55% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in environmental design will find it at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #5. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $25,759. Soon after graduation, environmental design 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. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Arizona State University placed #6 among the best values for environmental design. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the environmental design program here. Environmental Design 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. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for environmental design. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the environmental design program here. Soon after graduation, environmental design 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.
Harvard University placed #8 among the best values for environmental design. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $16,616. Environmental Design graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for environmental design. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete the environmental design program here. Environmental Design graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $54,076 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa placed #10 among the best values for environmental design. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Students borrow a median of $22,047 to complete the environmental design program here. Soon after graduation, environmental design 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. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.
Stony Brook University came in at #11 for value in environmental design this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the environmental design program here. Environmental Design graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #12 for value in environmental design this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $20,031. Early-career environmental design graduates make about $64,891. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo came in at #13 for value in environmental design 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, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $19,669. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $37,952. Set against $19,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Oregon placed #14 among the best values for environmental design. University Of Oregon is a very large public school located in the city of Eugene. In-state tuition and fees average $15,320, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $22,034. Environmental Design graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $44,628 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University landed the #15 spot for environmental design value this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $25,375 in student loans. Environmental Design 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. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #16 spot for environmental design value this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the environmental design program here. Early-career environmental design graduates make about $43,843. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #17 for value in environmental design this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $42,401. That is a strong return on a $23,641 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Boston Architectural College landed the #18 spot for environmental design value this year. Boston Architectural College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $27,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $53,192. Environmental Design graduates of Boston Architectural College earn a median of $62,409 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $53,192 median debt.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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).
[Environmental Design](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/) 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.
