2026 Best Value architecture Master’s Degree Schools

1

University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in architecture in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $19,843 to complete the architecture program here. Architecture graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $61,661 early in their careers. Set against $19,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.

2

Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

Students looking for strong value in architecture will find it at Princeton University, which ranked #2. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the architecture program here. Early-career architecture graduates make about $67,532. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.

3

California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Pomona, CA

California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the architecture program here. Architecture graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $57,514 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.

4

University Of South Florida Main Campus
Tampa, FL

Students looking for strong value in architecture will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Architecture graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Architecture graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $49,537 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.

5

University Of Illinois At Chicago
Chicago, IL

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Architecture graduates carry a median of $23,840 in student loans. Architecture graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $46,760 early in their careers. Set against $23,840 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.

6

University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR

University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture schools. Set in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,324. Students borrow a median of $5,673 to complete the architecture program here. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras generally make around $24,881. That is a strong return on a $5,673 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.

7

Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA

Louisiana Tech University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture schools. Louisiana Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Ruston. In-state tuition and fees average $10,125, while out-of-state students pay about $16,866. Architecture graduates carry a median of $23,846 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Louisiana Tech University generally make around $50,602. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.

8

Portland State University
Portland, OR

Portland State University landed the #8 spot for architecture value this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the architecture program here. Early-career architecture graduates make about $32,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.

9

University Of Louisiana Lafayette
Lafayette, LA

University Of Louisiana Lafayette landed the #9 spot for architecture value this year. University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public school located in the city of Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $10,418, compared with $24,146 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,373 to complete the architecture program here. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from University Of Louisiana Lafayette generally make around $46,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.

10

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #10 for value in architecture this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Architecture graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $58,938. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.

11

University Of The District Of Columbia
Washington, DC

University Of The District Of Columbia placed #11 among the best values for architecture. University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $5,662 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,514. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $32,304. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from University Of The District Of Columbia generally make around $57,060. Set against $32,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

Prairie View A And M University
Prairie View, TX

Prairie View A And M University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture schools. Prairie View A And M University is a large public school located in the rural area of Prairie View. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,299, compared with $26,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,429 to complete the architecture program here. Early-career architecture graduates make about $53,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.

13

North Dakota State University Main Campus
Fargo, ND

North Dakota State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value architecture schools. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Architecture graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Architecture graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $55,779 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.

14

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX

Texas Tech University earned the #14 position for value in architecture this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $21,699 to complete the architecture program here. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $60,304. Set against $21,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.

15

Kent State University At Kent
Kent, OH

Kent State University At Kent earned the #15 position for value in architecture this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $26,000. Architecture graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $54,613 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

16

Texas A And M University College Station
College Station, TX

Texas A And M University College Station earned the #16 position for value in architecture this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $18,465. Early-career architecture graduates make about $60,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.

17

Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH

Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #17 for value in architecture this year. 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, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,449 to complete the architecture program here. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $45,196. Set against $25,449 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.

18

Judson University
Elgin, IL

Judson University landed the #18 spot for architecture value this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,297. Students borrow a median of $26,221 to complete the architecture program here. Architecture graduates of Judson University earn a median of $55,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,221 median debt. Judson University admits about 48% of applicants.

19

University Of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN

University Of Notre Dame placed #19 among the best values for architecture. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Students from in state pay about $65,025 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $28,419. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $65,883. Set against $28,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.

20

Catholic University Of America
Washington, DC

Catholic University Of America came in at #20 for value in architecture this year. Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,378. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the architecture program here. Early-career architecture graduates make about $55,113. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.

21

Hampton University
Hampton, VA

Hampton University placed #21 among the best values for architecture. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,592. Architecture graduates carry a median of $26,169 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architecture degree recipients from Hampton University generally make around $49,774. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hampton University admits about 62% of applicants.

22

Howard University
Washington, DC

Howard University came in at #22 for value in architecture this year. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,810. Typical student debt for architecture graduates is $25,498. Architecture graduates of Howard University earn a median of $58,495 early in their careers. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.