If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architecture & related services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Cerritos College the best value for a degree in architecture & related services in the Far Western Region. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $11,306. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Sequoias one of the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt San Antonio College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architecture & related services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Ventura College one of the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $99,778. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Santa Monica College placed #6 among the best values for architecture & related services. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
Orange Coast College came in at #7 for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Diablo Valley College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Fresno ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
Cosumnes River College earned the #10 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, Cosumnes River College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Cosumnes River College earn a median of $19,699 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palomar College placed #11 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,354 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
Bakersfield College placed #12 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,430, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Students borrow a median of $9,419 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Bakersfield College earn a median of $86,312 early in their careers. Set against $9,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City College Of San Francisco placed #13 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,696, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $100,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Sacramento ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $16,500. Architecture & Related Services graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $50,108 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Ca is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,191, while out-of-state students pay about $10,935. Students borrow a median of $19,800 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Median earnings reach $41,540 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of California San Diego came in at #16 for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $17,101. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
East Los Angeles College earned the #17 position for value in architecture & related services this year. East Los Angeles College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $33,595. That is a strong return on a $8,180 median debt.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #18 spot for architecture & related services value this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,899 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $57,101. Set against $26,899 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $62,630. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of California Irvine earned the #20 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $66,092. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Rio Hondo College landed the #21 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,388, while out-of-state students pay about $9,884. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $15,510 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Rio Hondo College generally make around $95,666. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jose State University came in at #22 for value in architecture & related services this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #23 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $64,572 early in their careers. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Cuesta College landed the #24 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,350, compared with $11,010 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $64,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Portland State University placed #25 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $33,612. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in architecture & related services:
Narrow Architecture & Related Services Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 78 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
[Architecture & Related Services](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong architecture & related services education at a price that pays off.
