[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for architecture & related services students.
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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.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville earned the #1 spot for value among architecture & related services schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $10,058. Architecture & Related Services graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $30,343 early in their careers. Set against $10,058 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #3 place for architecture & related services. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $11,904. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Rice University earn a median of $65,091 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Blinn College one of the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,890 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,465 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Blinn College earn a median of $43,408 early in their careers. Set against $16,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned it the #5 place for architecture & related services. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Students borrow a median of $23,443 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $44,623. That is a strong return on a $23,443 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Arlington earned the #6 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Students borrow a median of $23,535 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $52,359. Set against $23,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Houston ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $49,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Prairie View A And M University placed #8 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,299, compared with $26,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,429 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Prairie View A And M University generally make around $53,504. That is a strong return on a $30,429 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University placed #9 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $20,995 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $41,225 early in their careers. Set against $20,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #10 among the best values for architecture & related services. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $23,138 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $58,084 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas placed #11 among the best values for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. 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.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #12 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $36,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Arizona earned the #13 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. 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. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $46,667 early in their careers. Set against $30,045 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #14 among the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #15 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. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $56,272 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Texas Tech University landed the #16 spot for architecture & related services value this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $22,007 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $49,727 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #17 for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $60,058. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value architecture & related services schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $18,939. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $52,670. That is a strong return on a $18,939 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
