2027 Best Value architecture Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[architecture](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-architecture/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.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value architecture schools.
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2027 Best Value architecture Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architecture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value architecture Schools
Princeton University earned the #1 spot for value among architecture schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Architecture graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kean University earned it the #2 place for architecture. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,299 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $27,000. Early-career architecture graduates make about $48,705. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art earned it the #3 place for architecture. Set in the city of New York, Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,820. Students borrow a median of $16,805 to complete the architecture program here. Early-career architecture graduates make about $16,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art admits about 21% of applicants.
Brookdale Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architecture, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,270, compared with $10,140 for out-of-state students. Architecture graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Brookdale Community College generally make around $37,374. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture schools. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,892, while out-of-state students pay about $16,837. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $31,000. Architecture graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $49,192 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Morgan State University landed the #6 spot for architecture value this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,229, while out-of-state students pay about $19,124. Architecture graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans. Architecture graduates of Morgan State University earn a median of $26,282 early in their careers. Set against $30,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Morgan State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University At Buffalo placed #7 among the best values for architecture. 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, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $22,854. Architecture graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $37,622 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $23,258. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Marywood University landed the #9 spot for architecture value this year. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,420. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the architecture program here. Early-career architecture graduates make about $48,650. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #10 spot for architecture value this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $16,155. Early-career architecture graduates make about $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $24,958. Architecture graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #12 for value in architecture this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Architecture graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career architecture graduates make about $89,327. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for architecture. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Students borrow a median of $30,440 to complete the architecture program here. Architecture graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $60,898 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,440 median debt. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Ithaca College came in at #14 for value in architecture this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $24,517. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $38,328. Set against $24,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned the #15 position for value in architecture this year. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $54,334. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Lehigh University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture schools. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete the architecture program here. Early-career architecture graduates make about $70,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University came in at #17 for value in architecture this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Architecture graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Architecture graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $57,730 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Howard University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture schools. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $35,810. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $25,498. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Howard University generally make around $58,495. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. Howard University admits about 41% of applicants.
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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 · 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
