[Architecture & Related Services](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 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.
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, our #1 best value for architecture & related services in North Carolina. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $65,697. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned it the #2 place for architecture & related services. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $54,314 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes East Carolina University one of the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $51,931. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #4 place for architecture & related services. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,823 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $58,889. That is a strong return on a $25,823 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
More Architecture & Related Services Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
