[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for architecture & related services students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in architecture & related services, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in architecture & related services, no school beat Ohio State University Main Campus this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $26,694. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $47,305 early in their careers. Set against $26,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in architecture & related services will find it at Kent State University At Kent, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $43,752. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned it the #4 place for architecture & related services. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $22,768 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $46,437. That is a strong return on a $22,768 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
A rank of #5 makes Miami University Oxford one of the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. That is a strong return on a $25,237 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
More Architecture & Related Services Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
