Architectural Sciences and Technology at Andrews University

A first-year salary of $49,261—based on national medians for architectural sciences programs—paired with estimated debt near $31,000 creates a manageable but unexciting financial picture. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 sits in reasonable territory, meaning graduates should be able to handle loan payments without severe strain, though they won't have much cushion for unexpected expenses or aggressive savings goals early in their careers.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With too few Andrews graduates in this program to generate reported data, we're relying entirely on what similar programs produce nationally. Architecture-adjacent fields can vary wildly depending on geographic market, specific curriculum focus (design versus technical), and employer connections. Michigan's construction and design sectors center heavily around Detroit and Grand Rapids, and whether Andrews effectively connects students to those markets matters enormously for actual outcomes.

What makes this decision harder is the $31,000 debt estimate—roughly $4,000 above the national median for this field. If your child can reduce borrowing through scholarships, work-study, or family contribution, this program becomes considerably more attractive. But at the estimated debt level, you're banking on Andrews delivering outcomes at least as strong as the national average, with no school-specific data to confirm that's happening.