[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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 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.
For return on investment in architecture & related services, no school beat The University Of Texas At Brownsville this year. Set in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,148, with out-of-state students paying around $4,948. Students borrow a median of $10,058 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $30,343 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes El Paso Community College one of the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #3 place for architecture & related services. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $65,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At San Antonio one of the best values for architecture & related services. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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 $44,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #5 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. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $16,465. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $43,408. That is a strong return on a $16,465 median debt.
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. In-state tuition and fees average $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,535 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Architecture & Related Services graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $52,359 early in their careers. Set against $23,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Houston earned the #7 position for value in architecture & related services this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Architecture & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Architecture & Related Services graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $49,388 early in their careers. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Prairie View A And M University earned the #8 position for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,299, compared with $26,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $30,429. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $53,504. Set against $30,429 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of North Texas earned the #9 position for value in architecture & related services this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $18,250. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $49,157. That is a strong return on a $18,250 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #10 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the architecture & related services program here. Soon after graduation, architecture & related services degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $47,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University came in at #11 for value in architecture & related services this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #12 for value in architecture & related services this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $60,058. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #13 among the best values for architecture & related services. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for architecture & related services graduates is $18,939. Early-career architecture & related services graduates make about $52,670. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% 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.
