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2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region

18 Ranked Colleges
1,180 Degrees Awarded
$19,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Architecture & Related Services is the 28th most popular major in the country with 17,480 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, architecture and related services graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,294 and had an average of $39,729 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,984 architecture and related services graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,365 and $35,581 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,180 architecture and related services graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in architecture and related services. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality architecture and related services programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the architecture and related services program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

#14 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 36 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $16,945 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students.

Full SIUC Architecture & Related Services Report

#2

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,986 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Purdue Architecture & Related Services Report

#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to 95 students in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,876 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students.

Full UWM Architecture & Related Services Report

#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kent State University at Kent. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Kent State University at Kent is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 89 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

Kent State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $18,885 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Kent State

#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. BGSU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,394 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students per year to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus.

Full BGSU Architecture & Related Services Report

#6

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Ball State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to 65 students in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $15,147 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

Full Ball State Architecture & Related Services Report

#12 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to 103 students in 2019-2020.

UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $21,843 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students per year to attend UC.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#9 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees to 69 students in 2019-2020.

UIC also made our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $13,312 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UIC Architecture & Related Services Report

#9

Judson University

Elgin, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Judson University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Judson is a small school located in Elgin, Illinois that handed out 26 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Judson, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Judson University is $18,737 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Judson University

#4 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 91 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $15,880 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Architecture & Related Services Report

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 133 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $17,616 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Ohio State

#12

University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

University of Detroit Mercy came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students list, Detroit Mercy has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Detroit Mercy is $18,356 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Detroit Mercy Architecture & Related Services Report

#3 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,708 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students per year to attend UW - Madison.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#8 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Miami University - Oxford is a public institution located in Oxford, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $24,323 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Architecture & Related Services at Miami University - Oxford

#15

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

Andrews University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s architecture and related services students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students list, Andrews has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Andrews is $21,934 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Andrews

#5 in overall quality

Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Illinois Tech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 65 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech also made our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Illinois Institute of Technology is $22,831 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at Illinois Institute of Technology

#17

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 70 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $15,336 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture & related services students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Architecture & Related Services at U-M

#18

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#1 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Architecture & Related Services Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 36 bachelors’s architecture and related services degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Architecture & Related Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $33,025 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Architecture & Related Services students per year to attend Notre Dame.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Notre Dame Architecture & Related Services Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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