
[Architecture & Related Services](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for architecture & related services students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architecture & related services degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #1 spot for value among architecture & related services schools in Wisconsin. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. 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. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Students looking for strong value in architecture & related services will find it at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $47,345. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Mount Mary College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Mount Mary College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,420. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,372 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $49,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Students looking for strong value in architecture & related services will find it at Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $43,743. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design generally make around $24,782. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
More Architecture & Related Services Rankings
View All Architecture & Related Services Rankings >
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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.