Best Value Environmental Design Colleges

Environmental Design programs show striking earnings differences across the country, with graduates earning between $30,366 and $57,318 annually. Cornell University stands out with the highest graduate earnings at $57,318, though its $32,337 net price reflects the premium cost of Ivy League education. Florida Atlantic University offers remarkable value with a net price of just $8,001 while producing graduates who earn $55,964. The field connects closely with the growing green building industry, where sustainable design professionals work on LEED certification projects and climate-resilient infrastructure. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with in-state students at Montana State paying only $8,083 compared to out-of-state costs exceeding $20,000 at several schools. The 93.73% acceptance rate at Utah State University contrasts sharply with Cornell's selective 7.47% rate, showing how program accessibility varies dramatically. Boston Architectural College presents an unusual case with a 38.50% graduation rate despite strong earnings potential at $53,358 for completers.

Programs

$6,507 – $45,864

Net Price Range

$41,959

Avg. Program Earnings

69.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

38 Environmental Design Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida	$8,001	$55,964	$4,879	64.3%	81.3%
2	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$13,181	$49,019	$12,186	62.6%	72.8%
3	Utah State University Logan, Utah	$12,869	$36,848	$9,228	57.3%	93.7%
4	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$17,139	$32,382	$16,488	84.8%	74.9%
5	Montana State University Bozeman, Montana	$20,593	$38,289	$8,083	57.3%	73.3%
6	University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado	$21,480	$39,663	$16,430	75.0%	80.7%
7	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$32,337	$57,318	$66,014	95.1%	7.5%
8	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, Ohio	$20,918	$35,416	$14,081	62.8%	78.7%
9	University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York	$20,470	$32,925	$10,782	73.4%	67.7%
10	Boston Architectural College Boston, Massachusetts	$37,891	$53,358	$26,800	38.5%
11	University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts	$23,691	$30,366	$17,357	83.2%	63.5%
12	University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee	$13,253		$10,344	49.4%	94.6%
13	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, Ohio	$27,662		$17,809	81.8%	87.9%
14	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, Oklahoma	$17,413		$9,595	75.3%	72.9%
15	Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$31,671		$63,829	92.5%	11.3%
16	Delaware Valley University Doylestown, Pennsylvania	$27,243		$43,300	52.2%	95.4%
17	Marywood University Scranton, Pennsylvania	$22,222		$39,570	72.5%	80.8%
18	University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras San Juan, Puerto Rico	$6,507		$5,324	52.5%	51.6%
19	University of Houston Houston, Texas	$13,853		$9,711	64.9%	66.2%
20	Bennington College Bennington, Vermont	$31,918		$64,644	66.7%	45.3%
21	Cornish College of the Arts Seattle, Washington	$39,060		$39,913	52.0%	71.1%
22	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485		$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
23	Carthage College Kenosha, Wisconsin	$24,813		$36,500	60.5%	81.8%
24	Auburn University Auburn, Alabama	$23,897		$12,536	79.2%	43.7%
25	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$16,334		$10,857	63.7%	95.7%
26	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina	$16,931		$8,895	84.6%	47.2%
27	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430		$10,560	77.8%	49.1%
28	University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, New Mexico	$17,478		$8,115	52.5%	96.1%
29	Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, New Jersey	$23,519		$17,239	85.0%	66.3%
30	Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston, Massachusetts	$23,764		$14,960	69.2%	78.6%
31	Hampshire College Amherst, Massachusetts	$25,810		$56,630	57.2%	68.9%
32	Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, Maryland	$38,429		$55,150	71.3%	79.6%
33	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898		$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
34	Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, California	$45,864		$55,513	60.6%	83.3%
35	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840		$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
36	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288		$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
37	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979		$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
38	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, Arizona	$13,670		$12,051	67.8%	89.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Florida Atlantic University such strong value for Environmental Design?

Florida Atlantic University combines low costs with high earnings potential, offering a net price of $8,001 while graduates earn $55,964 annually. The school maintains an 81.32% acceptance rate and 64.30% graduation rate. Students carry an average debt load of $14,347, which represents excellent return on investment given the salary outcomes.

How do public university costs compare between in-state and out-of-state students?

In-state students enjoy significant savings, with Montana State charging $8,083 for residents versus $20,593 net price overall. University of Colorado Boulder shows a smaller gap at $16,430 in-state compared to $21,480 net price. These differences can mean tens of thousands in savings over four years for state residents.

Is Cornell University worth the premium cost for Environmental Design?

Cornell graduates earn $57,318 annually, the highest among these programs, with an strong 95.10% graduation rate. The net price of $32,337 represents significant investment, but the 7.47% acceptance rate reflects highly selective admissions. The Ivy League credential opens doors to top firms in sustainable architecture and urban planning.

Does graduation rate correlate with program quality in Environmental Design?

Graduation rates vary dramatically, from Boston Architectural College's 38.50% to Cornell's 95.10%. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities achieves 84.80% completion with moderate costs and reasonable earnings. However, Boston Architectural College graduates who complete the program earn $53,358, showing that completion rates don't always predict career success.

Where can students find the most affordable Environmental Design education?

In-state students at Montana State pay just $8,083, making it the most affordable option. Florida Atlantic University offers the lowest net price at $8,001 for all students. University of Memphis and Utah State also provide budget-friendly options under $15,000, though specific earnings data varies by school.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.