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 California. 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. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. 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. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $10,288. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architecture & related services, landing the #3 spot this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $9,384. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in architecture & related services will find it at Ventura College, which ranked #4. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $20,250. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in architecture & related services will find it at Pasadena City College, which ranked #5. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Monica College earned the #6 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
Orange Coast College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $8,978. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Diablo Valley College earned the #8 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,312 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. 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. That is a strong return on a $9,205 median debt.
Cosumnes River College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, Cosumnes River College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $19,699. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
California State University Fresno landed the #10 spot for architecture & related services value this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $15,598. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Palomar College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, compared with $10,650 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
Bakersfield College placed #12 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,430, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $9,419 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $86,312. Set against $9,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City College Of San Francisco landed the #13 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,696, compared with $14,656 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $10,332. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. That is a strong return on a $10,332 median debt.
California State University Sacramento landed the #14 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $50,108. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca landed the #15 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Ca is a large public school located in the city of Glendale. Students from in state pay about $1,191 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,935. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $19,800 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,540 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,800 median debt.
University Of California San Diego came in at #16 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $60,797. That is a strong return on a $17,101 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
East Los Angeles College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from East Los Angeles College generally make around $33,595. That is a strong return on a $8,180 median debt.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #18 for value in architecture & related services 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, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $26,899. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $57,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine came in at #19 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $66,092 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
San Jose State University came in at #20 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Rio Hondo College earned the #21 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,388 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,884. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $15,510 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Rio Hondo College earn a median of $95,666 early in their careers. Set against $15,510 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #22 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $16,097. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $61,506. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Cuesta College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,350, with out-of-state students paying around $11,010. Students borrow a median of $18,958 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Cuesta College earn a median of $64,492 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,958 median debt.
University Of California Berkeley placed #24 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $15,000. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $54,813 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #25 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $25,633. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $58,511. That is a strong return on a $25,633 median debt. The acceptance rate is 31%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s architecture & related services value ranking:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 67 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong architecture & related services education at a price that pays off.
