2026 Best Value General Architecture Schools in Illinois
[General Architecture](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/general-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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general architecture students.
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2026 Best Value General Architecture Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general architecture degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Architecture Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in general architecture in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for general architecture graduates is $23,840. Early-career general architecture graduates make about $37,143. Set against $23,840 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general architecture schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general architecture program here. Soon after graduation, general architecture degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $51,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Judson University one of the best values for general architecture. Judson University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Elgin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,297. Typical student debt for general architecture graduates is $26,221. Soon after graduation, general architecture degree recipients from Judson University generally make around $48,301. Set against $26,221 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
More General Architecture Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
