[Architecture & Related Services](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
El Paso Community College earned the #1 spot for value among architecture & related services schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architecture & related services, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,948. Students borrow a median of $10,058 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $30,343. That is a strong return on a $10,058 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Rice University one of the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $11,904. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $65,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #4 place for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $20,995 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $42,129. That is a strong return on a $20,995 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,212, while out-of-state students pay about $11,812. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $9,875 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Texas State Technical College earn a median of $36,265 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #6 position for value in architecture & related services this year. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Students borrow a median of $23,443 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $44,633. Set against $23,443 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Houston placed #7 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $49,388. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas earned the #8 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $49,157. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Prairie View A And M University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,299, with out-of-state students paying around $26,874. Students borrow a median of $30,429 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $53,504. Set against $30,429 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Prairie View A And M University admits about 79% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #10 for value in architecture & related services this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $23,535. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $52,504. That is a strong return on a $23,535 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona came in at #11 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $30,045 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $46,462. Set against $30,045 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for architecture & related services. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $56,272. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #13 among the best values for architecture & related services. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $26,000. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $47,256 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Blinn College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,890, compared with $11,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $16,465. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Blinn College generally make around $43,408. Set against $16,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #15 spot for architecture & related services value this year. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $23,138. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $58,084. Set against $23,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #16 position for value in architecture & related services this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $60,070 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #17 for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $36,097 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University placed #18 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $22,007 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $49,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #19 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $18,939. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $52,678. Set against $18,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
