A Data Evolvement Analysis for Sustainable Performance Evaluation of Educational Resource Use in Architecture Universities

Against the backdrop of China’s dual-carbon strategy and the ongoing development of Green Campus initiatives, the efficiency of resource allocation in universities—particularly architecture-oriented institutions—has attracted increasing attention. This study evaluates 28 architecture universities in mainland China using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) based on standardized input–output indicators. Three dimensions are assessed: technical efficiency (TE), pure technical efficiency (PTE), and scale efficiency (SE). The results reveal that, while many universities demonstrate strong managerial efficiency, significant disparities exist in scale efficiency, indicating widespread mismatches between institutional scale and resource utilization. Further classification based on returns to scale (RTS) identifies distinct types of inefficiencies, informing tailored improvement strategies. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for differentiated resource optimization and sustainable campus development, offering practical insights to enhance the green performance and long-term educational sustainability of architecture universities.