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 colleges 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.
To arm you with the information you need, 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 General Architecture Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Our analysis found Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus to be the best-value General Architecture school in the United States. Based in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Typical General Architecture student debt is $28,192. Graduates go on to earn a median of $102,772 ten years after entry. Set against $28,192 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of California Berkeley came in at #2 on this year's best-value General Architecture ranking in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete their General Architecture program here. Median earnings reach $92,446 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
Out of the 133 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #3 spot. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical General Architecture student debt is $29,000. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University alumni report median earnings of $81,698 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
Out of the 133 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Texas A And M University College Station landed the #4 spot. Set in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical General Architecture student debt is $18,465. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $72,097. That is a strong return on a $18,465 median debt. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #5 on this year's best-value General Architecture ranking in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. The median General Architecture program debt is $16,097. University Of California Los Angeles alumni report median earnings of $82,511 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #6 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public school based in Milwaukee, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their General Architecture program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,990. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee report
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. University Of Pennsylvania General Architecture students take on a median of $16,155 in debt. Median earnings reach $111,371 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%. Get the full University Of Pennsylvania report
Harvard University placed #8 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Located in Cambridge, MA, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical General Architecture student debt is $16,616. Graduates go on to earn a median of $101,817 ten years after entry. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%. Get the full Harvard University report
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Cambridge, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $62,396. The median General Architecture program debt is $13,516. Graduates go on to earn a median of $143,372 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,516 median debt. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants. Read more about Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Arizona State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Located in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Graduates carry a median of $21,067 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,668 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%. See the full Arizona State University profile
University Of Hawaii At Manoa offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public school based in Honolulu, HI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. University Of Hawaii At Manoa General Architecture students take on a median of $20,577 in debt. Median earnings reach $57,624 ten years out. Set against $20,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 87% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa profile
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $22,600 to complete their General Architecture program here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $54,810 a decade after entry. Set against $22,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 85% of those who apply are admitted. 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. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Graduates carry a median of $19,843 in student loans. Median earnings reach $71,588 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $19,843 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants. Read more about University Of Florida
Carnegie Mellon University offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. The median General Architecture program debt is $23,529. Carnegie Mellon University alumni report median earnings of $114,862 a decade after entry. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted. More on Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University In The City Of New York offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete their General Architecture program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $102,491 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants. 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. Set in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. The median General Architecture program debt is $18,750. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor alumni report median earnings of $83,648 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%. Get the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor report
Catholic University Of America offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. See the full Catholic University Of America profile
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Southern Illinois University Carbondale
New Mexico State University Dona Ana offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on New Mexico State University Dona Ana
University Of San Francisco ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Read more about University Of San Francisco
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full North Dakota State University Main Campus profile
Universidad Del Turabo landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Universidad Del Turabo
El Paso Community College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about El Paso Community College
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Get the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln report
Auburn University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. See the full Auburn University profile
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:
University Of Central Florida came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Central Florida
Itawamba Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. More on Itawamba Community College
Samford University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Read the full report on Samford University
El Centro College placed #29 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Read the full report on El Centro College
Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Get the full Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus report
Thomas Jefferson University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. See the full Thomas Jefferson University profile
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Read the full report on Suny College Of Technology At Delhi
University Of Washington Seattle Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Kent State University At Kent came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. More on Kent State University At Kent
University Of Missouri Kansas City offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Kansas City
Wellesley College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. More on Wellesley College
Bennington College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Bennington College
Norwich University came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. More on Norwich University
University Of Houston ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Read more about University Of Houston
Cranbrook Academy Of Art came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. See the full Cranbrook Academy Of Art profile
University Of Massachusetts Amherst offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Louisiana Tech University landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Louisiana Tech University profile
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #43 among the best-value General Architecture schools in the United States. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
Texas Tech University landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Texas Tech University
University Of Kentucky offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about University Of Kentucky
University Of Maine At Augusta landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Maine At Augusta report
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. Read the full report on Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Clemson University came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Clemson University report
Washington University In St Louis came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Washington University In St Louis report
Lee College
Lee College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Architecture schools. More on Lee College
Related General Architecture Value Rankings
See value rankings for 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
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (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).
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