Best colleges for Urban Studies/Affairs in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, University of California-San Diego and University of California-Irvine are the top bachelor's Urban Studies/Affairs programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $58,171, College Scorecard. University of California-San Diego, University of California-Irvine and University of California-Berkeley award the most Urban Studies/Affairs degrees in California: 59, 54 and 36 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 California colleges offer Urban Studies/Affairs and award 256 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Urban Studies/Affairs program is a transdisciplinary field that explores urban settlements and development. It encompasses various subjects, including geography, sociology, and public policy, making it ideal for students interested in…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,171 | 36 | 93% | — | $14,444 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,074 | 59 | 86% | — | $17,500 |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,385 | 54 | 87% | — | $15,000 |
| 4 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $50,008 | 12 | 50% | — | $18,600 |
| 5 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,826 | 18 | 57% | — | $13,612 |
Colleges awarding the most Urban Studies/Affairs degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 59 | $37,074 |
| 2 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 54 | $34,385 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 36 | $58,171 |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 5 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 18 | $46,826 |
| 6 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 7 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public | 12 | $50,008 |
| 8 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 9 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 California colleges offering Urban Studies/Affairs
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Urban and Regional Planners (SOC 19-3051).
Top skills
What Urban and Regional Planners earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Urban Studies/Affairs programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Urban Studies/Affairs degrees?+
University of California-San Diego (59 graduates a year), University of California-Irvine (54 graduates a year) and University of California-Berkeley (36 graduates a year) award the most Urban Studies/Affairs degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 California colleges offer Urban Studies/Affairs.
What is the best college for Urban Studies/Affairs in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley leads among bachelor's Urban Studies/Affairs programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $58,171, College Scorecard. University of California-San Diego and University of California-Irvine follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-San Diego is the largest, with 59 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Urban Studies/Affairs program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Berkeley tops the list at $58,171. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Urban and Regional Planners earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Urban and Regional Planners in California is $116,480 (median $109,610), across about 7,460 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Urban Studies/Affairs program?+
The Urban Studies/Affairs program is a transdisciplinary field that explores urban settlements and development. It encompasses various subjects, including geography, sociology, and public policy, making it ideal for students interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Urban and Regional Planners?+
The national job outlook is about +3.4% growth with around 3,400 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card