2026 Best Value Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Associate’s Degree Schools
[Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/architectural-engineering-technology/architectural-engineering-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong architectural engineering technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 95 schools to find the best return on investment for architectural engineering technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in architectural engineering technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Schools
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #1 spot for value among architectural engineering technology/technician schools in the United States. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering technology/technician graduates is $11,861. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clover Park Technical College earned it the #2 place for architectural engineering technology/technician. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,634. Typical student debt for architectural engineering technology/technician graduates is $15,154. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $42,209. That is a strong return on a $15,154 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Suffolk County Community College one of the best values for architectural engineering technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete the architectural engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Del Mar College earned it the #4 place for architectural engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in architectural engineering technology/technician will find it at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering technology/technician graduates is $16,909. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $40,584. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pellissippi State Community College came in at #6 for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,770. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $43,816. Set against $8,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Essex County College came in at #7 for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,415, with out-of-state students paying around $9,523. Students borrow a median of $12,472 to complete the architectural engineering technology/technician program here. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Essex County College earn a median of $37,915 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,472 median debt.
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #8 position for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. That is a strong return on a $13,287 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Forsyth Technical Community College placed #9 among the best values for architectural engineering technology/technician. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Students borrow a median of $16,374 to complete the architectural engineering technology/technician program here. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $38,094 early in their careers. Set against $16,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wake Technical Community College placed #10 among the best values for architectural engineering technology/technician. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Typical student debt for architectural engineering technology/technician graduates is $17,900. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College landed the #11 spot for architectural engineering technology/technician value this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, with out-of-state students paying around $11,224. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Pitt Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural engineering technology/technician schools. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,871, compared with $13,087 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $19,741 in student loans. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Pitt Community College earn a median of $43,022 early in their careers. Set against $19,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange County Community College landed the #13 spot for architectural engineering technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,526, compared with $12,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering technology/technician graduates is $14,152. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Orange County Community College earn a median of $43,442 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,152 median debt.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry placed #14 among the best values for architectural engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,332, with out-of-state students paying around $5,763. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,154 in student loans. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $43,322. That is a strong return on a $11,154 median debt.
Sandhills Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural engineering technology/technician schools. Set in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,648. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Sandhills Community College generally make around $46,492. That is a strong return on a $9,238 median debt.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earned the #16 position for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Students borrow a median of $14,188 to complete the architectural engineering technology/technician program here. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $48,848 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,188 median debt.
Community College Of Denver came in at #17 for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering technology/technician graduates is $18,830. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $45,202. Set against $18,830 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pikes Peak Community College landed the #18 spot for architectural engineering technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete the architectural engineering technology/technician program here. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $41,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northampton County Area Community College earned the #19 position for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $18,900 in student loans. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $35,960 early in their careers. Set against $18,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ferris State University earned the #20 position for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,589 in student loans. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $54,608 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Northcentral Technical College placed #21 among the best values for architectural engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $44,840 early in their careers. Set against $11,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #22 for value in architectural engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,078. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,669 in student loans. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $43,479. That is a strong return on a $13,669 median debt.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #23 spot for architectural engineering technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete the architectural engineering technology/technician program here. Early-career architectural engineering technology/technician graduates make about $44,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delgado Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural engineering technology/technician schools. Delgado Community College is a large public school located in the city of New Orleans. Students from in state pay about $4,279 in tuition and fees. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $25,283 in student loans. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Delgado Community College earn a median of $36,073 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,283 median debt.
Community College Of Philadelphia placed #25 among the best values for architectural engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,632 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,744. Architectural Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $37,988. Set against $16,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s architectural engineering technology/technician value ranking:
Other Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician rankings across degree levels:
View All Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician Rankings >
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 · 95 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.
