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Cheapest Architectural Sciences and Technology Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Two schools dominate the affordable end of architectural sciences education with striking contrasts in outcomes. CUNY City College delivers the lowest net cost at $3,486 while maintaining a respectable 54.70% graduation rate, while CUNY New York City College of Technology follows at $4,783 but shows just 19.40% of students completing their programs. The field draws particular strength from the Northeast corridor where major construction firms and architectural offices concentrate hiring. Rice University breaks conventional wisdom about private school costs, landing at position six with a $12,640 net price that rivals many public institutions while achieving an outstanding 95.70% graduation rate. Geographic clusters emerge clearly in this ranking, with California and Texas schools showing strong representation alongside traditional Northeast strongholds. The earnings potential varies significantly across programs, from Western Kentucky's $41,937 average to Washington's impressive $72,134, reflecting regional market conditions and program specializations that range from building technology to sustainable design systems.
50
Programs
$3,486 – $33,139
Net Price Range
$46,214
Avg. Program Earnings
68.1%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Architectural Sciences and Technology Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $3,486 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
2 $4,783 $7,332 19.4% 81.8%
3 $10,916 $11,436 53.7% 97.0%
4 $11,353 $8,618 23.3%
5 $12,188 $9,992 41.1% 92.3%
6 $12,640 $58,128 95.7% 8.7%
7 $13,172 $9,315 63.9% 89.1%
8 $13,289 $11,764 92.3% 17.1%
9 $13,485 $12,643 83.7% 47.5%
10 $13,782 $8,816 60.9% 73.9%
11 $14,401 $12,997 61.6% 83.1%
12 $15,201 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
13 $15,432 $11,046 52.7% 86.1%
14 $15,590 $11,505 88.6% 44.6%
15 $15,624 $11,075 85.2% 30.4%
16 $15,960 $13,626 65.9% 86.8%
17 $16,179 $32,300 68.1% 90.5%
18 $16,378 $10,234 65.9% 70.6%
19 $16,487 $7,541 73.1% 83.1%
20 $16,496 $19,022 73.1% 66.0%
21 $17,185 $29,778 51.1% 65.0%
22 $17,387 $8,710 48.0% 83.2%
23 $17,413 $9,595 75.3% 72.9%
24 $17,478 $8,115 52.5% 96.1%
25 $18,165 $10,497 75.5% 90.2%
26 $18,219 $9,299 59.6% 86.1%
27 $18,597 $33,710 65.9% 91.3%
28 $19,133 $10,017 47.4% 74.6%
29 $19,353 $51,763 72.4% 61.4%
30 $20,593 $8,083 57.3% 73.3%
31 $20,709 $44,360 56.0% 75.7%
32 $21,523 $35,235 66.0% 63.4%
33 $21,782 $15,669 71.5% 86.3%
34 $22,117 $62,982 94.4% 11.8%
35 $23,691 $17,357 83.2% 63.5%
36 $23,764 $14,960 69.2% 78.6%
37 $23,790 $15,478 86.3% 57.0%
38 $26,084 $17,940 50.4%
39 $26,196 $30,730 61.1% 55.1%
40 $26,389 $20,572 64.0% 76.7%
41 $27,662 $17,809 81.8% 87.9%
42 $28,163 $45,683 68.2% 88.9%
43 $28,248 $44,886 54.8% 62.6%
44 $29,219 $22,082 74.7% 79.7%
45 $31,671 $63,829 92.5% 11.3%
46 $31,927 $68,237 92.0% 12.0%
47 $32,116 $63,141 90.4% 6.8%
48 $32,337 $66,014 95.1% 7.5%
49 $32,977 $23,440 57.1% 29.7%
50 $33,139 $61,884 83.2% 64.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge gap between the cheapest and most expensive programs on this list?

The price spread runs from $3,486 at CUNY City College to $16,496 at the top end, primarily reflecting state funding differences and regional cost variations. Public schools dominate the bottom half of rankings, with most charging under $15,000 net cost. Rice University stands as the notable private exception at $12,640, proving that institutional endowments can make private education competitive with public alternatives. Geographic location plays a major role, with Northeast and West Coast schools generally commanding higher prices.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in architectural sciences?

The data reveals no clear correlation between cost and completion rates across these programs. Rice University achieves 95.70% graduation at $12,640 while CUNY NYC College of Technology manages only 19.40% at $4,783. Georgia Tech delivers 92.30% completion at $13,289, showing that selective admission rather than high cost drives success rates. Several mid-range schools like University of Washington maintain strong 83.70% graduation rates without premium pricing.

Is there a regional advantage for architectural sciences programs in certain areas?

The Pacific Northwest shows particularly strong outcomes, with University of Washington graduates earning $72,134 annually compared to the field average. California schools cluster prominently in affordable options while maintaining solid graduation rates above 85%. The Northeast corridor provides the lowest entry costs through CUNY schools, though completion rates vary widely. Texas and Georgia programs balance reasonable costs with strong industry connections to major metropolitan construction markets.

Does student debt load vary significantly between affordable architectural programs?

Debt levels range from $14,692 at CUNY NYC College of Technology to $26,666 at Washington State University among schools reporting this data. Most programs keep debt under $25,000, with University of Washington maintaining relatively modest $18,977 despite high regional living costs. University of Illinois manages $19,687 in debt while charging $15,201 net cost, showing efficient cost management. The lowest-cost schools generally correlate with reduced borrowing needs.

What acceptance rates can students expect at these affordable programs?

Acceptance rates span from highly selective Georgia Tech at 17.13% to open-access Western Kentucky at 96.95%, showing wide accessibility differences. Rice University maintains extreme selectivity at 8.68% while offering competitive pricing through generous aid programs. Most public programs accept between 70-90% of applicants, making architectural sciences education broadly accessible. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo stands out as moderately selective at 30.43% while maintaining strong graduation outcomes at reasonable cost.

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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.