[Architecture & Related Services](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong architecture & related services education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value architecture & related services schools.
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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 Joliet Junior College the best value for a degree in architecture & related services in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakland Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $15,865. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $18,750. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $47,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $11,533. Architecture & Related Services graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn a median of $33,960 early in their careers. Set against $11,533 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #5 place for architecture & related services. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $23,840 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $37,143. That is a strong return on a $23,840 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Wayne State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $64,788. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #7 position for value in architecture & related services this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $21,291 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $49,869 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #8 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $51,093. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Andrews University landed the #10 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berrien Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,056. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Andrews University earn a median of $62,634 early in their careers. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Detroit Mercy landed the #11 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,946. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of Detroit Mercy generally make around $76,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
Ball State University landed the #12 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $28,670. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $55,954. That is a strong return on a $28,670 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #13 for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $20,542. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,123 early in their careers. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #14 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $44,095. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #15 among the best values for architecture & related services. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $26,694. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $47,305. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #16 for value in architecture & related services this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #17 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $31,123. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $37,948. That is a strong return on a $31,123 median debt. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Judson University landed the #18 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,297. Students borrow a median of $26,221 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services 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%.
Mount Mary College came in at #19 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Mount Mary College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,420. Students borrow a median of $26,372 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $49,888. Set against $26,372 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mount Mary College admits about 62% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,668 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #21 for value in architecture & related services this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $22,768. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $47,279. That is a strong return on a $22,768 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #22 for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $43,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Notre Dame came in at #23 for value in architecture & related services this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,025. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $28,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $64,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,743. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design earn a median of $24,782 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Miami University Oxford placed #25 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,237 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $40,721 early in their careers. Set against $25,237 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in architecture & related services:
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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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
