2026 Best Value Architectural Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Architectural Engineering](/majors/engineering/architectural-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong architectural engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for architectural engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Architectural Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architectural engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Architectural Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Missouri University Of Science And Technology, our #1 best value for architectural engineering in the The Plains States Region. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural engineering graduates is $27,000. Architectural Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $73,274 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Kansas came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural engineering schools. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical student debt for architectural engineering graduates is $23,000. Architectural Engineering graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $76,353 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Architectural Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Architectural Engineering graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in architectural engineering will find it at Kansas State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the architectural engineering program here. Early-career architectural engineering graduates make about $74,091. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
