[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 44 schools to find the best return on investment for architecture & related services students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in architecture & related services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Harvard University tops our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools in the New England Region. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $70,812 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Springfield Technical Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,904, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $9,707 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Springfield Technical Community College earn a median of $42,457 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $71,974. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Boston earned it the #4 place for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $52,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Keene State College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,784, while out-of-state students pay about $26,840. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Keene State College earn a median of $43,448 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut came in at #6 for value in architecture & related services this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $23,637. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $58,784. That is a strong return on a $23,637 median debt. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $27,106. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $54,669 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,106 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island earned the #8 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. Students borrow a median of $23,432 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $57,920. Set against $23,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #9 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $25,190 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $64,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Middlebury College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,600. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $15,948 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. Set against $15,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Brown University placed #11 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,312. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $13,025. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Norwich University earned the #12 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,740. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Norwich University earn a median of $55,006 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Norwich University admits about 74% of applicants.
Boston University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $25,232. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Boston University earn a median of $60,806 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Yale University earned the #14 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $65,244. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Hartford came in at #15 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,075. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $25,648 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $51,123. Set against $25,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Hartford admits about 96% of applicants.
Northeastern University earned the #16 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $27,500. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $62,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology landed the #17 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $42,884. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Wentworth Institute Of Technology earn a median of $72,538 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wentworth Institute Of Technology admits about 91% of applicants.
Boston Architectural College earned the #18 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Boston Architectural College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $27,470 in tuition and fees. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $53,192 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Boston Architectural College earn a median of $62,409 early in their careers. Set against $53,192 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Roger Williams University came in at #19 for value in architecture & related services this year. Roger Williams University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bristol. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,197. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $48,664. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Endicott College landed the #20 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,650 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $25,973. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $55,361. That is a strong return on a $25,973 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Rhode Island School Of Design ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,943 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $54,556. Set against $26,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
