[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.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value architecture & related services schools.
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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 Princeton University this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Brookdale Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,270, with out-of-state students paying around $10,140. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Set against $12,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Kean University one of the best values for architecture & related services. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,299, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $27,000. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Kean University earn a median of $48,705 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,974, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $48,961. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architecture & related services, landing the #5 spot this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $44,459 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
