[Architecture & Related Services](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 13 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.
Leading the list is Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology, our #1 best value for architecture & related services in Pennsylvania. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Lancaster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,050. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $9,915. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology earn a median of $43,244 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,915 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes La Roche College one of the best values for architecture & related services. La Roche College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $34,052 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $27,078. Architecture & Related Services graduates of La Roche College earn a median of $54,268 early in their careers. Set against $27,078 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. La Roche College admits about 76% of applicants.
Marywood University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architecture & related services, landing the #3 spot 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. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Marywood University generally make around $48,650. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania College Of Technology earned it the #4 place for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,940, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Technology generally make around $43,501. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Temple University earned it the #5 place for architecture & related services. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $49,428. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #6 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $63,662. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #7 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $47,355 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $30,600. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $60,594. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Chatham University placed #8 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,001. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $24,261 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Chatham University earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #9 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $24,958. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #10 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $48,514 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Students borrow a median of $30,473 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $60,822 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,473 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University placed #12 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Drexel University earned the #13 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $57,730. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
