[Architecture & Related Services](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 69 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.
Leading the list is Cuny City College, our #1 best value for architecture & related services in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $61,110. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Princeton University earned it the #2 place for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny New York City College Of Technology one of the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $15,221 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Cuny New York City College Of Technology generally make around $34,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architecture & related services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,050. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $9,915 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology earn a median of $43,244 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Maryland College Park one of the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $22,654. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $55,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Kean University earned the #6 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,299, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $48,705. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of New York, Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $46,820 in tuition and fees. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $16,805 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $16,678. That is a strong return on a $16,805 median debt. The acceptance rate is 21%.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,974, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $48,961. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earned the #9 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,892, compared with $16,837 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred generally make around $49,192. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University landed the #10 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The District Of Columbia placed #11 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,662, while out-of-state students pay about $12,514. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $32,304 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of The District Of Columbia earn a median of $57,060 early in their careers. Set against $32,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny At Albany placed #12 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #13 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $60,824. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Morgan State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,229, compared with $19,124 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Morgan State University generally make around $26,282. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry placed #15 among the best values for architecture & related services. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,303, compared with $22,263 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $55,763 ten years out. Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry admits about 63% of applicants.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earned the #16 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Delhi. Students from in state pay about $8,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,762. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $20,303 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earn a median of $48,647 early in their careers. Set against $20,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University At Buffalo earned the #17 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $21,262. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $40,720 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,262 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
New York Institute Of Technology placed #18 among the best values for architecture & related services. New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Old Westbury. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,560. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from New York Institute Of Technology generally make around $50,115. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New York Institute Of Technology admits about 81% of applicants.
La Roche College landed the #19 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Set in the suburb of Pittsburgh, La Roche College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,052 in tuition and fees. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,078 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $54,268. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Marywood University landed the #20 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,420. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $31,000. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Marywood University earn a median of $48,650 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Marywood University admits about 61% of applicants.
Chatham University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,001. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $24,261. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Chatham University generally make around $45,785. That is a strong return on a $24,261 median debt. Chatham University admits about 62% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #22 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $44,459. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #24 for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Thomas Jefferson University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $47,355. Students borrow a median of $30,600 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $61,021 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,600 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in architecture & related services:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 69 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
