2027 Best Value architecture Schools
[architecture](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/architecture/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 79 schools to find the best return on investment for architecture students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value architecture School for You
The right architecture school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value 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.
See how we build our rankings
Customize Your Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value architecture Schools list, to help you choose. 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.
Learn more about our methodology
2027 Best Value architecture Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in architecture, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value architecture Schools
Our analysis ranked Princeton University the best value for a degree in architecture in the United States. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $10,888. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Florida one of the best values for architecture. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $19,843. Architecture graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $51,102 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,843 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architecture, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Architecture graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans. Early-career architecture graduates make about $49,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in architecture will find it at Utah Valley University, which ranked #4. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the architecture program here. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Paso Community College earned it the #5 place for architecture. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the architecture program here. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville earned the #6 position for value in architecture this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,948. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $10,058. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $30,343. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Central Florida earned the #7 position for value in architecture this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $13,250. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $37,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in architecture this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $21,829. Architecture graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $49,537 early in their careers. Set against $21,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $28,000. Early-career architecture graduates make about $57,514. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #10 among the best values for architecture. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the architecture program here. Architecture graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $38,998 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Rice University placed #11 among the best values for architecture. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #12 for value in architecture this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Architecture graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture graduates make about $50,039. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $15,000. Architecture graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $50,917 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in architecture this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Students borrow a median of $28,192 to complete the architecture program here. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $48,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #15 for value in architecture this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,840 to complete the architecture program here. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $37,143. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Portland State University earned the #16 position for value in architecture this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $32,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Kean University came in at #17 for value in architecture this year. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Architecture graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $48,705. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art landed the #18 spot for architecture value this year. Set in the city of New York, Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,820. Students borrow a median of $16,805 to complete the architecture program here. Architecture graduates of Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art earn a median of $16,678 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,805 median debt. The acceptance rate is 21%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,423 to complete the architecture program here. Architecture graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $55,967 early in their careers. Set against $20,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #20 for value in architecture this year. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $23,000. Early-career architecture graduates make about $44,766. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Brookdale Community College came in at #21 for value in architecture this year. Brookdale Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. In-state tuition and fees average $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Architecture graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Architecture graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #22 spot for architecture value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the architecture program here. Early-career architecture graduates make about $63,833. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Louisiana Tech University earned the #23 position for value in architecture this year. Set in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,125, while out-of-state students pay about $16,866. Students borrow a median of $23,846 to complete the architecture program here. Architecture graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of $50,602 early in their careers. Set against $23,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Louisiana Tech University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras placed #24 among the best values for architecture. Set in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,324. Architecture graduates carry a median of $5,673 in student loans. Early-career architecture graduates make about $24,881. Set against $5,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras admits about 55% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #25 among the best values for architecture. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $25,000. Architecture graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $51,093 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value architecture Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for architecture this year:
Narrow architecture Schools by Region
View All Rankings >
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to architecture. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
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 · 79 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 79 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.
