Compare 27 Urban Studies/Affairs. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $59,071. Top programs: $81,123+.
With top graduates earning $81,123, Urban Studies/Affairs stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $22,000—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 27 ranked programs, outcomes track program quality, not school reputation.
New York University's Urban Studies/Affairs program leads with graduates earning $81,123—well above the $59,071 field average. Close behind, Barnard College delivers $79,807 and UC Berkeley $76,125. Notably, CUNY Queens College—a public school with a 64% acceptance rate—posts $74,979, outpacing several selective private institutions and reinforcing that outcomes belong to programs, not prestige tiers.
Strong earnings matter more when debt stays manageable. CUNY Queens College graduates borrow just $10,298 in student loans and carry a 2.7% payment burden, earning an 'Excellent' GPS affordability rating. For families weighing parent loans, Queens still leads—its 8.0% combined burden lands in the 'Good' tier, making it the standout choice whether students or parents are holding the debt.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York UniversityPrivate | $81,123 | 31 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | Challenging |
| #2 | Barnard CollegePrivate | $79,807 | 34 | $18,000 | Excellent | $65,000 | Challenging |
| #3 | $76,125 | 27 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Good | |
| #4 | Cuny Queens CollegePublic | $74,979 | 34 | $10,298 | Excellent | $17,680 | Good |
| #5 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $73,905 | 18 | $11,428 | Excellent | $48,245 | Manageable |
| #6 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $73,190 | 21 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Manageable |
| #7 | $72,148 | 15 | $13,872 | Excellent | $13,522 | Good | |
| #8 | $71,380 | 35 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $70,207 | 27 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Good | |
| #10 | $63,819 | 81 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $62,807 | 26 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Manageable | |
| #12 | Vassar CollegePrivate | $59,930 | 15 | $18,625 | Excellent | $44,501 | High |
| #13 | $59,261 | 6 | $21,500 | Good | $25,294 | Challenging | |
| #14 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $58,915 | 10 | $21,250 | Good | $16,378 | Manageable |
| #15 | $58,084 | 32 | $21,500 | Good | $23,585 | Challenging | |
| #16 | $58,010 | 43 | $19,450 | Excellent | $20,906 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $57,342 | 30 | $21,500 | Good | $35,324 | Challenging | |
| #18 | University At AlbanyPublic | $57,150 | 12 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,398 | Manageable |
| #19 | $53,582 | 39 | $21,797 | Good | $16,998 | Challenging | |
| #20 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $52,107 | 14 | — | — | — | — |
| #21 | $51,378 | 19 | $24,250 | Good | $35,031 | High | |
| #22 | $48,387 | 7 | $19,500 | Good | $17,518 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $45,870 | 26 | — | — | — | — | |
| #24 | $43,128 | 6 | — | — | — | — | |
| #25 | $36,183 | 9 | — | — | — | — |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
