ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Environmental Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools

12 Colleges in the United States
$21,013 Avg Student Debt
$60,617 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Environmental Design Bachelor's Degree Badge [Environmental Design](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/) 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.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 65 schools to find the best return on investment for environmental design students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/architecture-and-related-services/environmental-design/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 3
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 04.04), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA in Sustainability & Environmental Compliance" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MBA in Sustainability & Environmental Compliance" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources & Conservation" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Environmental Science - Natural Resources & Conservation" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Environmental Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Environmental Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers

2026 Best Value Environmental Design Schools in the United States

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the environmental design degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Environmental Design Schools

1

Leading the list is Florida Atlantic University, our #1 best value for environmental design in the United States. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete the environmental design program here. Early-career environmental design graduates make about $49,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.

2

University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design schools. Set in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,324 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the environmental design program here. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras generally make around $24,881. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.

3

Utah State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design schools. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $16,191 in student loans. Environmental Design graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $50,348 early in their careers. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.

4

University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,047 to complete the environmental design program here. Environmental Design graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $37,849 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,047 median debt. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.

5

University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental design, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the environmental design program here. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.

ADBLOCK #101
6

University Of Memphis landed the #6 spot for environmental design value this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. Environmental Design graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $48,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.

7

Arizona State University placed #7 among the best values for environmental design. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $37,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.

8

North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #8 spot for environmental design value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $25,759. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $59,622. That is a strong return on a $25,759 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.

9

North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in environmental design this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $25,153 in student loans. Early-career environmental design graduates make about $54,076. Set against $25,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.

10
Stony Brook University crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University placed #10 among the best values for environmental design. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the environmental design program here. Early-career environmental design graduates make about $60,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #115
11

University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Early-career environmental design graduates make about $49,983. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.

12

University At Buffalo came in at #12 for value in environmental design this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,669 to complete the environmental design program here. Environmental Design graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $37,952 early in their careers. Set against $19,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.

13

University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #13 position for value in environmental design this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Environmental Design graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $42,401. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.

14

Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental design schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $27,000. Early-career environmental design graduates make about $43,843. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.

15
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University placed #15 among the best values for environmental design. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,375 to complete the environmental design program here. Environmental Design graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $44,929 early in their careers. Set against $25,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #145
16

Otis College Of Art And Design placed #16 among the best values for environmental design. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,488. Typical student debt for environmental design graduates is $28,292. Soon after graduation, environmental design degree recipients from Otis College Of Art And Design generally make around $21,440. Set against $28,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Otis College Of Art And Design admits about 82% of applicants.

Other Environmental Design Degree Levels

Explore the best-value environmental design schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Environmental Design
Associate's Degrees in Environmental Design
Master's Degrees in Environmental Design
ADBLOCK #173
View All Environmental Design Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

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 · 65 schools evaluated.

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

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options