Best Colleges for Urban Studies/Affairs

Urban Studies and Urban Affairs programs prepare students to tackle complex city planning challenges, housing policy, and community development issues. With only 28 schools nationwide offering this specialized major, graduates enter a focused field where they can influence how cities grow and function.

The average starting salary for Urban Studies graduates is $34,682, reflecting the public service nature of many career paths. When evaluating programs, students should prioritize internship opportunities with city governments or nonprofits, access to real urban environments for hands-on learning, and faculty with practical planning experience. Strong programs also emphasize data analysis skills and community engagement methods, as modern urban planners must balance resident needs with economic development goals.

Schools Ranked

$36,263

Avg. Program Earnings

71.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	New York University New York, New York	$52,107	88.5%	private-nonprofit
2	Fordham University Bronx, New York	$52,107	80.3%	private-nonprofit
3	University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$48,823	96.8%	private-nonprofit
4	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$48,432	92.9%	public
5	Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, Minnesota	$43,128	54.1%	public
6	University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, Washington	$41,937	62.3%	public
7	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$41,937	83.7%	public
8	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$40,737	50.1%	public
9	California State University-Northridge Northridge, California	$40,647	56.2%	public
10	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California	$39,729	87.6%	public
11	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$38,289	60.2%	public
12	Worcester State University Worcester, Massachusetts	$38,289	55.5%	public
13	University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana	$36,183	42.5%	public
14	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$35,701	84.8%	public
15	Cleveland State University Cleveland, Ohio	$34,704	48.9%	public
16	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$33,993	86.0%	public
17	Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia	$33,382	65.4%	public
18	Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan	$32,119	56.5%	public
19	Trinity University San Antonio, Texas	$31,670	81.9%	private-nonprofit
20	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$29,685	84.3%	public
21	Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California	$24,421	79.8%	private-nonprofit
22	Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York	$24,035	89.1%	private-nonprofit
23	University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, Illinois	$21,508	60.3%	public
24	University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut	$21,508	83.8%	public
25	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, Connecticut	$21,508	59.5%	public