[Architecture & Related Services](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong architecture & related services education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value architecture & related services schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architecture & related services degrees they offer, see the list below.
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. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $13,389 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $15,221 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn a median of $34,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. 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. 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. Set against $16,805 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
A rank of #4 makes Suny At Albany one of the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,601, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $23,521. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Stony Brook University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earned the #6 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. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $49,192 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #7 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $23,258. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $61,382 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
University At Buffalo landed the #8 spot for architecture & related services value this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $21,262 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $40,689. That is a strong return on a $21,262 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi landed the #9 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Delhi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,772, compared with $12,762 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $20,303 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $48,647. That is a strong return on a $20,303 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Cornell University ranked #10 on our 2027 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. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $17,011 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $58,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
New York Institute Of Technology earned the #11 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the rural area of Old Westbury, New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,560. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of New York Institute Of Technology earn a median of $50,115 early in their careers. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College placed #12 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,888 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $17,609. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $50,790 early in their careers. Set against $17,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Hobart William Smith Colleges earned the #13 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Hobart William Smith Colleges is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Geneva. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,928. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Hobart William Smith Colleges generally make around $29,900. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Ithaca College landed the #14 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $24,517. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $38,328. Set against $24,517 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned the #15 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $54,334. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
New York University placed #16 among the best values for architecture & related services. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of New York University earn a median of $71,369 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University landed the #17 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $58,366. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Fordham University landed the #18 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $59,403. Set against $25,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
New York School Of Interior Design ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. New York School Of Interior Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,130. Median earnings reach $48,041 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Pratt Institute Main came in at #20 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,845. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $31,000. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $56,038 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The New School landed the #21 spot for architecture & related services value this year. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $58,730. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $24,460. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $56,546. Set against $24,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
