2026 Best Value General Architecture Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Architecture doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 133 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value General Architecture Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $28,192 in student loans. Median earnings reach $102,772 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $28,192 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete their General Architecture program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $92,446 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
You'll get strong value at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $81,698. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. About 55% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
You'll get strong value at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #4 this year. Based in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Students borrow a median of $18,465 to complete their General Architecture program here. Texas A And M University College Station alumni report median earnings of $72,097 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $18,465 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
Out of the 133 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of California Los Angeles landed the #5 spot. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. University Of California Los Angeles General Architecture students take on a median of $16,097 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $82,511 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of California Los Angeles report
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public school based in Milwaukee, WI. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,990. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 91% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University Of Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. University Of Pennsylvania General Architecture students take on a median of $16,155 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $111,371 ten years after entry. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%. Read the full report on University Of Pennsylvania
Harvard University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete their General Architecture program here. Harvard University alumni report median earnings of $101,817 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted. See the full Harvard University profile
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #9 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. The median General Architecture program debt is $13,516. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $143,372. That is a strong return on a $13,516 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%. Read the full report on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Arizona State University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Arizona State University is a public school based in Tempe, AZ. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. The median General Architecture program debt is $21,067. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $62,668. That is a strong return on a $21,067 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Arizona State University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Set in Honolulu, HI, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. The median General Architecture program debt is $20,577. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $57,624. That is a strong return on a $20,577 median debt. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants. See the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa profile
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school based in Cincinnati, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical General Architecture student debt is $22,600. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,810. That is a strong return on a $22,600 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
University Of Florida placed #14 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. The median General Architecture program debt is $19,843. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $71,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Florida
Carnegie Mellon University offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,636. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $114,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,517. Typical General Architecture student debt is $23,258. Graduates go on to earn a median of $102,491 ten years after entry. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York has an acceptance rate of 4%. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,648 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Rice University
Rice University landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Rice University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Cranbrook Academy Of Art came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. More on Cranbrook Academy Of Art
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #20 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Illinois At Chicago report
Middlebury College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Middlebury College
Ball State University offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on Ball State University
East Mississippi Community College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about East Mississippi Community College
University Of Idaho ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. More on University Of Idaho
Lee College
Lee College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Lee College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Architecture Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Princeton University landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Princeton University
Hampton University landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Hampton University report
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #28 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #29 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. More on University Of South Florida Main Campus
Yale University
Yale University offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Yale University profile
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. See the full Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute profile
Fairmont State University came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. More on Fairmont State University
Front Range Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full Front Range Community College report
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #34 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Read more about Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi placed #35 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Read the full report on Suny College Of Technology At Delhi
University Of Maine At Augusta landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Maine At Augusta
Kent State University At Kent landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Kent State University At Kent profile
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. More on The University Of Texas At Arlington
Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. More on Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus
The University Of Tennessee ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Read more about The University Of Tennessee
Auburn University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Auburn University
University Of Southern California offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full University Of Southern California report
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Virginia Main Campus profile
Belmont University placed #44 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Read the full report on Belmont University
Washington University In St Louis offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. See the full Washington University In St Louis profile
Thomas Jefferson University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Read the full report on Thomas Jefferson University
University Of Louisiana Lafayette ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Read the full report on University Of Louisiana Lafayette
Drury University
Drury University offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. More on Drury University
Catholic University Of America placed #49 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Read the full report on Catholic University Of America
Holmes Community College placed #50 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. See the full Holmes Community College profile
Related General Architecture Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value General Architecture Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value General Architecture Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Architecture Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Architecture Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Architecture Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Architecture Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 133 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).