2026 Best Value Architectural Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
[Architectural Engineering](/majors/engineering/architectural-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong architectural engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for architectural engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Architectural Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in architectural engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Architectural Engineering Schools
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #1 spot for value among architectural engineering schools in the United States. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering graduates is $25,116. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $80,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned it the #2 place for architectural engineering. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Architectural Engineering graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in architectural engineering will find it at Auburn University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for architectural engineering graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $103,273. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the best values for architectural engineering. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Other Architectural Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Architectural Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All Architectural Engineering 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
