---

2026 Best Value Architectural History Schools

[Architectural History](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/architectural-history/) 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.

College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value architectural history schools.

What’s on this page:

• Customize Your Rankings
• Best Value Architectural History Schools List
• Narrow by Region

Finding the Best Value Architectural History School for You

Where you study architectural history affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Architectural History Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.

Read more about our methodology

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Architectural History Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.

Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.

See how we build our rankings

2026 Best Value Architectural History Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in architectural history, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Architectural History Schools

1

Boston University
Boston, MA

$68,102 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,232 Avg Student Debt

$83,238 Median Earnings (10yr)

Boston University tops our 2026 list of the best value architectural history schools in the United States. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the architectural history program here. Soon after graduation, architectural history degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.

2

University Of San Diego
San Diego, CA

$59,486 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,795 Avg Student Debt

$86,522 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of San Diego earned it the #2 place for architectural history. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $59,486. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete the architectural history program here. Soon after graduation, architectural history degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $68,281. That is a strong return on a $23,795 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.

3

Northeastern University
Boston, MA

$66,162 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,611 Avg Student Debt

$92,538 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #3 makes Northeastern University one of the best values for architectural history. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Architectural History graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans. Early-career architectural history graduates make about $74,800. Set against $25,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.

View All Rankings >

Architectural History Related Rankings by Major

Architectural History is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.

Most Popular Related Majors

Major	Annual Graduates
Architectural History and Criticism, General	45
Architectural Studies	8

View All Architectural History Concentrations >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 33 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.