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2026 Best Value Architectural Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architectural engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Architectural Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo the best value for a degree in architectural engineering in the United States. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering graduates is $25,116. Architectural Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $80,481 early in their careers. Set against $25,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.
Students looking for strong value in architectural engineering will find it at The University Of Texas At Arlington, which ranked #2. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Students borrow a median of $21,632 to complete the architectural engineering program here. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $55,304. Set against $21,632 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in architectural engineering will find it at Missouri University Of Science And Technology, which ranked #3. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Architectural Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $73,274 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Texas A And M University Kingsville one of the best values for architectural engineering. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,892, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Typical student debt for architectural engineering graduates is $24,743. Early-career architectural engineering graduates make about $55,459. Set against $24,743 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Arizona came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural engineering schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Early-career architectural engineering graduates make about $50,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
ADBLOCK #101
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #6 position for value in architectural engineering this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,813 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Students borrow a median of $28,608 to complete the architectural engineering program here. Early-career architectural engineering graduates make about $67,152. That is a strong return on a $28,608 median debt. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Wyoming came in at #7 for value in architectural engineering this year. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,283 in student loans. Architectural Engineering graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $66,497 early in their careers. Set against $20,283 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas placed #8 among the best values for architectural engineering. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the architectural engineering program here. Architectural Engineering graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $76,353 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for architectural engineering value this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete the architectural engineering program here. Architectural Engineering graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #10 spot for architectural engineering value this year. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,138 in student loans. Architectural Engineering graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $58,084 early in their careers. Set against $23,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #11 for value in architectural engineering this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering graduates is $22,386. Architectural Engineering graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kansas State University landed the #12 spot for architectural engineering value this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $74,091. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #13 among the best values for architectural engineering. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Typical student debt for architectural engineering graduates is $25,701. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $73,510. Set against $25,701 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Oregon State University earned the #14 position for value in architectural engineering this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,043 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $51,000. That is a strong return on a $24,043 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #15 for value in architectural engineering this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #16 spot for architectural engineering value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Typical student debt for architectural engineering graduates is $26,774. Architectural Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural engineering schools. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,165 in student loans. Early-career architectural engineering graduates make about $72,567. Set against $15,165 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural engineering schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural engineering degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $77,115. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #19 spot for architectural engineering value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,880 in student loans. Architectural Engineering graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $72,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #20 position for value in architectural engineering this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
[Architectural Engineering](/majors/engineering/architectural-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
