2026 Best Value Environmental Design Schools
Looking for the best-value Environmental Design programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 65 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Grad Degree analyzed schools to produce 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 Environmental Design Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat North Carolina State University At Raleigh this year in the United States. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Graduates carry a median of $25,759 in student loans. Median earnings reach $68,758 ten years out. Set against $25,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 42% of those who apply are admitted. See the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh profile
You'll get strong value at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Austin, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Typical Environmental Design student debt is $21,275. The University Of Texas At Austin alumni report median earnings of $75,121 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants. More on The University Of Texas At Austin
A rank of #3 makes Clemson University one of the best values in the United States. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete their Environmental Design program here. Median earnings reach $71,513 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants. More on Clemson University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #4 on this year's best-value Environmental Design ranking in the United States. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school based in Blacksburg, VA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete their Environmental Design program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $81,698 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
You'll get strong value at Texas Tech University, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,454 ten years after entry. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants. Get the full Texas Tech University report
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Environmental Design schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete their Environmental Design program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $86,863. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%. Read more about University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Georgia came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. University Of Georgia is a public school based in Athens, GA. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete their Environmental Design program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,726 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Georgia
Texas A And M University College Station offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Set in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical Environmental Design student debt is $20,031. Median earnings reach $72,097 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Set in Tampa, FL, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. University Of South Florida Main Campus Environmental Design students take on a median of $21,829 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $57,743. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. About 43% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of South Florida Main Campus profile
Boston Architectural College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Boston Architectural College is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,470. Students borrow a median of $53,192 to complete their Environmental Design program here. Median earnings reach $62,123 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $53,192 median debt. Read more about Boston Architectural College
Iowa State University landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Ames, IA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,495 to complete their Environmental Design program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,386. Set against $23,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants. See the full Iowa State University profile
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Denver, CO. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. The median Environmental Design program debt is $26,582. Median earnings reach $64,270 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Colorado Denver
University Of Miami landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school based in Coral Gables, FL. In-state tuition and fees average $62,616. Graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $75,328 ten years after entry. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Miami has an acceptance rate of 19%. More on University Of Miami
University Of Oregon placed #14 among the best-value Environmental Design schools in the United States. Located in Eugene, OR, University Of Oregon is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,320 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,034 in student loans. Median earnings reach $61,324 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of Oregon profile
University Of Pennsylvania placed #15 among the best-value Environmental Design schools in the United States. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,686. Typical Environmental Design student debt is $16,155. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $111,371. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Southern California landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $71,647. Graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. University Of Southern California alumni report median earnings of $92,498 a decade after entry. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of Southern California profile
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Based in San Antonio, TX, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Typical Environmental Design student debt is $23,312. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $57,131. That is a strong return on a $23,312 median debt. The University Of Texas At San Antonio has an acceptance rate of 87%. Read more about The University Of Texas At San Antonio
Portland State University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Portland, OR. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Portland State University Environmental Design students take on a median of $26,475 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $57,906. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Portland State University has an acceptance rate of 91%. See the full Portland State University profile
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Carnegie Mellon University
Maryland Institute College Of Art ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Environmental Design schools. Read more about Maryland Institute College Of Art
Nhti Concords Community College came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Nhti Concords Community College
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #22 among the best-value Environmental Design schools in the United States. Read the full report on Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Northeastern University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Environmental Design schools. Get the full Northeastern University report
The University Of Texas At Arlington offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about The University Of Texas At Arlington
Portland Community College came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Portland Community College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Environmental Design Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Ball State University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on Ball State University
Marywood University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Environmental Design schools. See the full Marywood University profile
University Of Colorado Boulder offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. See the full University Of Colorado Boulder profile
Arizona State University landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Arizona State University
Stony Brook University landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Stony Brook University profile
Florida Atlantic University placed #31 among the best-value Environmental Design schools in the United States. See the full Florida Atlantic University profile
Michigan State University came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Michigan State University
North Dakota State University Main Campus ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Environmental Design schools. See the full North Dakota State University Main Campus profile
University Of Memphis placed #34 among the best-value Environmental Design schools in the United States. More on University Of Memphis
Bennington College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Bennington College profile
Lawrence Technological University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Lawrence Technological University
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras
East Carolina University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on East Carolina University
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Missouri Columbia profile
Kent State University At Kent offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Kent State University At Kent profile
Otis College Of Art And Design landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Otis College Of Art And Design report
Utah State University landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Utah State University
University Of California Berkeley landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of California Berkeley
University Of Houston landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Houston
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. More on Central New Mexico Community College
Lee College
Lee College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Environmental Design schools. Get the full Lee College report
University At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. See the full University At Buffalo profile
Oral Roberts University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Oral Roberts University
University Of California Irvine ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Environmental Design schools. Get the full University Of California Irvine report
Best Value Environmental Design Schools by Degree Level
Explore value rankings for a specific degree level:
- Best Value Environmental Design Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Environmental Design Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Environmental Design Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Environmental Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Environmental Design Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Environmental Design Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Environmental Design Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 65 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).
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