[Architecture & Related Services](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 27 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 Cuny City College this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. 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. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $61,110 early in their careers. Set against $13,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architecture & related services, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, compared with $15,282 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $15,221 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $34,834. That is a strong return on a $15,221 median debt. Cuny New York City College Of Technology admits about 80% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art earned it the #3 place for architecture & related services. Set in the city of New York, Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,820. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $16,805. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art earn a median of $16,678 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,805 median debt. The acceptance rate is 21%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stony Brook University earned it the #4 place for architecture & related services. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. 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. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $60,047. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Suny College Of Technology At Alfred one of the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,892, while out-of-state students pay about $16,837. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $31,000. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $49,192. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany landed the #6 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $44,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Delhi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,772, with out-of-state students paying around $12,762. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $20,303 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $48,647. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $60,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry came in at #9 for value in architecture & related services this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,263. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,763 ten years after entry. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $21,262 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $40,720 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
New York Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the rural area of Old Westbury, New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,560. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $29,000. 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. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #12 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $27,491. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
Cornell University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Students borrow a median of $17,011 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $58,745 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Hobart William Smith Colleges earned the #14 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,928. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Hobart William Smith Colleges earn a median of $29,900 early in their careers. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #15 for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $31,000. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $54,334 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
New York University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $21,897. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from New York University generally make around $71,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Barnard College came in at #17 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,888. Students borrow a median of $17,609 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $50,790. That is a strong return on a $17,609 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Syracuse University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $58,311. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Fordham University earned the #19 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $59,403. Set against $25,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
New York School Of Interior Design ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of New York, New York School Of Interior Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,130. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $48,041. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Pratt Institute Main came in at #21 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,845 in tuition and fees. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $56,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The New School ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Students borrow a median of $24,460 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of The New School earn a median of $56,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,460 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
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. 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
