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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools

12 Colleges in the United States
$21,148 Avg Student Debt
$60,412 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Badge [Environmental Design & Architecture](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/environmental-design-and-architecture/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong environmental design & architecture education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 57 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value environmental design & architecture schools.

What’s on this page:

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Finding the Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture School for You

Where you study environmental design & architecture affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture 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.

Learn more about our methodology

Customizing Your List

We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

Associate's Degrees in Environmental Design & Architecture
Bachelor's Degrees in Environmental Design & Architecture
Master's Degrees in Environmental Design & Architecture
Doctorate Degrees in Environmental Design & Architecture

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

Read more about College Factual’s methodology

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2026 Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in environmental design & architecture, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Environmental Design & Architecture Schools

1

Florida Atlantic University earned the #1 spot for value among environmental design & architecture schools in the United States. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $16,250. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $49,340. That is a strong return on a $16,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.

2

Students looking for strong value in environmental design & architecture will find it at The University Of Texas At San Antonio, which ranked #2. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $23,312. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $49,955 early in their careers. Set against $23,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earned it the #3 place for environmental design & architecture. Located in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,324 in tuition and fees. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earn a median of $24,881 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.

4

Utah State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $50,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,191 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.

5

Students looking for strong value in environmental design & architecture will find it at University Of Hawaii At Manoa, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, with out-of-state students paying around $34,218. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $22,047. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $37,849. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.

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University Of California Berkeley earned the #6 position for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.

7

University Of Memphis placed #7 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $26,315 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $48,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.

8

Arizona State University landed the #8 spot for environmental design & architecture value this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $20,500. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $37,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.

9

North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #9 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $25,759 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $59,622 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,759 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.

10

North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $25,153 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $54,076. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.

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Stony Brook University crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design & architecture schools. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $60,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.

12

University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #12 spot for environmental design & architecture value this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. Set against $19,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.

13

University At Buffalo landed the #13 spot for environmental design & architecture value this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $19,669. Soon after graduation, environmental design & architecture degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $37,952. That is a strong return on a $19,669 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.

14

University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #14 for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete the environmental design & architecture program here. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $42,401. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.

15

Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #15 among the best values for environmental design & architecture. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $43,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.

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Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University earned the #16 position for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Environmental Design & Architecture graduates carry a median of $25,375 in student loans. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $44,929. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.

17

Otis College Of Art And Design earned the #17 position for value in environmental design & architecture this year. Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,488. Typical student debt for environmental design & architecture graduates is $28,292. Early-career environmental design & architecture graduates make about $21,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Otis College Of Art And Design admits about 82% of applicants.

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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Environmental Design & Architecture. Browse the parent area of study.

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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 · 57 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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