Urban Studies/Affairs programs
CIP 4512 · Social Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
35 institutions report graduate earnings for Urban Studies/Affairs programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $63,174 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36× and 88% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, all 37 programs with a benchmark clear the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026).
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia State UniversityGA · Master's | $91,085 n=22 | 77% 1yr | $36,073 | 0.40× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | CUNY Hunter CollegeNY · Master's | $89,866 n=63 | 92% 5yr | $28,918 | 0.32× | Above +27% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | CUNY Queens CollegeNY · Master's | $89,294 n=29 | 79% 5yr | $27,792 | 0.31× | Above +26% | Below 1/2 |
| 4 | Tufts UniversityMA · Master's | $83,598 n=37 | 91% 5yr | $41,000 | 0.49× | Above +10% | Below 1/2 |
| 5 | University of Maryland-College ParkMD · Master's | $83,508 n=17 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +10% | — |
| 6 | New York UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $81,123 n=20 | — | $19,500 | 0.24× | Above +113% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | Barnard CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $79,807 n=22 | 83% 5yr | $19,000 | 0.24× | Above +110% | Clears 2/2 |
| 8 | University of UtahUT · Master's | $76,906 n=20 | — | — | — | Above +29% | — |
| 9 | University of California-BerkeleyCA · Bachelor's | $76,125 n=29 | 100% 5yr | $15,000 | 0.20× | Above +98% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | CUNY Queens CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $74,979 n=18 | 88% 5yr | — | — | Above +97% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNY · Master's | $74,689 n=39 | 100% 5yr | — | — | Above +5% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Brown UniversityRI · Bachelor's | $73,905 n=19 | 85% 1yr | $14,000 | 0.19× | Above +76% | — |
| 13 | University of PennsylvaniaPA · Bachelor's | $73,190 n=19 | — | $21,500 | 0.29× | Above +94% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | California State University-NorthridgeCA · Bachelor's | $72,148 n=28 | 93% 5yr | $11,987 | 0.17× | Above +88% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | University of California-San DiegoCA · Bachelor's | $71,380 n=30 | 85% 5yr | $15,499 | 0.22× | Above +86% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | San Francisco State UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $70,207 n=46 | 82% 5yr | $18,625 | 0.27× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | University of UtahUT · Bachelor's | $68,928 n=25 | — | $16,340 | 0.24× | Above +73% | — |
| 18 | University of California-IrvineCA · Bachelor's | $63,819 n=41 | 82% 5yr | $15,122 | 0.24× | Above +66% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's | $63,174 n=48 | 78% 5yr | $15,757 | 0.25× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusWA · Bachelor's | $63,174 n=48 | 78% 5yr | $15,757 | 0.25× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's | $62,807 n=30 | 85% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.31× | Above +57% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | Vassar CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $59,930 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +58% | — |
| 23 | Rutgers University-CamdenNJ · Bachelor's | $59,261 n=32 | 90% 5yr | $24,250 | 0.41× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $59,261 n=32 | 90% 5yr | $24,250 | 0.41× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Wayne State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $58,915 n=18 | — | $25,205 | 0.43× | Above +68% | — |
| 26 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $58,084 n=54 | 73% 5yr | $22,250 | 0.38× | Above +53% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | University of Nevada-Las VegasNV · Bachelor's | $58,010 n=28 | 74% 1yr | $26,000 | 0.45× | Above +54% | — |
| 28 | University of ConnecticutCT · Bachelor's | $57,342 n=40 | 96% 5yr | $20,750 | 0.36× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointCT · Bachelor's | $57,342 n=40 | 96% 5yr | $20,750 | 0.36× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusCT · Bachelor's | $57,342 n=40 | 96% 5yr | $20,750 | 0.36× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | University of Connecticut-StamfordCT · Bachelor's | $57,342 n=40 | 96% 5yr | $20,750 | 0.36× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusCT · Bachelor's | $57,342 n=40 | 96% 5yr | $20,750 | 0.36× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | University at AlbanyNY · Bachelor's | $57,150 n=18 | — | $23,179 | 0.41× | Above +50% | — |
| 34 | Cleveland State UniversityOH · Bachelor's | $53,582 n=64 | 71% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.47× | Above +46% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA · Bachelor's | $51,378 n=16 | — | $25,000 | 0.49× | Above +36% | — |
| 36 | University of Illinois ChicagoIL · Bachelor's | $50,202 n=25 | — | $18,000 | 0.36× | Above +33% | — |
| 37 | Worcester State UniversityMA · Bachelor's | $48,387 n=19 | — | — | — | Above +11% | — |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $77,393 | 8 |
| California | $71,380 | 5 |
| Connecticut | $57,342 | 5 |
States with at least 3 reporting Urban Studies/Affairs programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Urban Studies/Affairs programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Urban Studies/Affairs programs in this dataset are Georgia State University ($91,085), CUNY Hunter College ($89,866), CUNY Queens College ($89,294). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Urban Studies/Affairs programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 0 of the 37 Urban Studies/Affairs programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.