2026 Best Value Environmental Design Schools in the Far Western Region
[Environmental Design](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for environmental design students.
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Featured Environmental Design Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value Environmental Design Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in environmental design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Environmental Design Schools
Leading the list is University Of Hawaii At Manoa, our #1 best value for environmental design in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $22,047. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $37,849. Set against $22,047 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental design, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $14,238. Environmental Design graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Otis College Of Art And Design is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental design, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,488. Students borrow a median of $28,292 to complete the environmental design program here. Environmental Design graduates of Otis College Of Art And Design earn a median of $21,440 early in their careers. Set against $28,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Otis College Of Art And Design admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 11 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.
