2022 Best Value Architecture Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Architecture Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

General Architecture is the 111th most popular major in the country with 5,051 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, general architecture graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $46,998 and had an average of $41,356 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 197 general architecture graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,625 and $42,290 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 62 general architecture graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Architecture Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 4 colleges that offer a degree in general architecture. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general architecture programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general architecture program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Architecture Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Architecture Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois master’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 4 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Architecture (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

#2 in overall quality

$27,036 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$50,856 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Architecture Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 11 masters’s architecture degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Architecture Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago General Architecture Report

#2

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Carbondale, Illinois

#1 in overall quality

$32,928 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$53,108 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Architecture Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #2 spot on the list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s architecture degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Architecture Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Architecture at SIUC

#3

Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago, Illinois

$30,695 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$53,108 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois Institute of Technology. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Architecture Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Illinois Institute of Technology is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 6 masters’s architecture degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best General Architecture Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Institute of Technology are $30,695, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Architecture at Illinois Tech

#4

Judson University

Elgin, Illinois

#3 in overall quality

$18,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$55,693 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Judson University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Architecture Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Judson University is a small school located in Elgin, Illinois that handed out 11 masters’s architecture degrees in 2019-2020.

Judson not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Architecture Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Judson are $18,900, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Judson General Architecture Report

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Architecture (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Architecture (Income $0-$30k)

Notes and References

References

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Danichou.

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