Best colleges for Urban Studies/Affairs
A program that focuses on the application of social science principles to the study of urban institutions and the forces influencing urban social and political life.
90 U.S. institutions graduated 1,201 Urban Studies/Affairs students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.1201, a specialization of Urban Studies/Affairs (CIP 45.12), and leads most directly to the Urban and Regional Planners occupation (BLS SOC 19-3051).
About Urban Studies/Affairs programs
A program that focuses on the application of social science principles to the study of urban institutions and the forces influencing urban social and political life. Includes instruction in urban theory, the development and evolution of urban areas, urban sociology, principles of urban and social planning, and the politics and economics of urban government and services.
See also: 04.0301 - City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Urban Studies/Affairs program focuses on the application of social science principles to understand urban institutions and the dynamics of urban social and political life. This program is ideal for students interested in the complexities of urban environments and the various factors that influence urban development and governance.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in urban theory, urban sociology, and the principles of urban and social planning. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, which are essential for addressing urban issues and engaging with diverse communities.
Credentials awarded
What Urban Studies/Affairs graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree803 graduates / yr · 71 institutions67%
- Master's degree244 graduates / yr · 24 institutions20%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year69 graduates / yr · 6 institutions5.7%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship41 graduates / yr · 10 institutions3.4%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate18 graduates / yr · 6 institutions1.5%
- Post-master's certificate14 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.2%
- Associate's degree12 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.0%
Graduates over time
Urban Studies/Affairs completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,667 |
| 2013 | 1,663 |
| 2014 | 1,583 |
| 2015 | 1,504 |
| 2016 | 1,372 |
| 2017 | 1,488 |
| 2018 | 1,414 |
| 2019 | 1,530 |
| 2020 | 1,368 |
| 2021 | 1,398 |
| 2022 | 1,338 |
| 2023 | 1,207 |
| 2024 | 1,235 |
| 2025 | 1,201 |
Top 50 institutions for Urban Studies/Affairs, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 77 | 57% | — | — |
| 2 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster'sBachelor's | 66 | — | — | — |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 59 | 86% | — | $37,074 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 54 | 87% | — | $34,385 |
| 5 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 37 | 53% | — | $45,870 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 37 | 89% | — | — |
| 7 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor's | 36 | 93% | — | $58,171 |
| 8 | CUNY Queens College Queens, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 36 | 53% | — | $42,995 |
| 9 | Cleveland State University Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 33 | 51% | — | $38,929 |
| 10 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 30 | 63% | — | $33,626 |
| 11 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 28 | 85% | — | $27,966 |
| 12 | Barnard College New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 24 | 93% | $24,675 | $40,294 |
| 13 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 24 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 14 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 24 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 15 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 23 | 86% | — | — |
| 16 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WAPublicBachelor's | 23 | 63% | — | $47,585 |
| 17 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 22 | 94% | $23,570 | — |
| 18 | Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 22 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 19 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 21 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 20 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicBachelor's | 18 | 57% | — | $46,826 |
| 21 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor's | 18 | 76% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NVPublicBachelor's | 18 | 51% | — | $46,712 |
| 23 | Fordham University Bronx, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 17 | 82% | $38,931 | — |
| 24 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 16 | 53% | — | — |
| 25 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 26 | University of New Orleans New Orleans, LAPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 14 | 38% | — | — |
| 27 | Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 82% | $19,073 | — |
| 28 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 50% | — | $50,008 |
| 29 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor's | 12 | 83% | — | $34,074 |
| 30 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicBachelor's | 12 | 58% | — | $43,811 |
| 31 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 85% | — | $36,099 |
| 32 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 96% | $14,644 | $48,731 |
| 33 | Rhodes College Memphis, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 85% | $19,854 | — |
| 34 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 35 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 90% | — | — |
| 36 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 11 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 37 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | 91% | $18,925 | — |
| 38 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicBachelor's | 11 | 75% | — | — |
| 39 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 11 | 65% | — | — |
| 40 | Norfolk State University Norfolk, VAPublicMaster's | 11 | 38% | — | — |
| 41 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicMaster's | 10 | 69% | — | — |
| 42 | University of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 70% | $37,121 | — |
| 43 | Trinity College Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 84% | $25,245 | — |
| 44 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 9 | 81% | — | — |
| 45 | University of Louisville Louisville, KYPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 9 | 61% | — | — |
| 46 | Tennessee State University Nashville, TNPublicBachelor's | 9 | 34% | — | — |
| 47 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 49% | — | — |
| 48 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor's | 8 | 84% | — | $44,263 |
| 49 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 69% | $54,185 | — |
| 50 | Ohio University Athens, OHPublicBachelor's | 8 | 65% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Urban Studies/Affairs field (CIP 45.12) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 31 states
Where Urban Studies/Affairs graduates come from. Each state links to all Urban Studies/Affairs programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3051, Urban and Regional Planners, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Urban Studies/Affairs program can pursue careers as Urban and Regional Planners, among other roles. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 3.4% and approximately 3,400 annual openings. A typical education requirement is a Master's degree, with a median wage of $83,720.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.1201
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Urban and Regional Plannersprimary SOC 19-3051 | $89,320 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~3,400 | Master's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other SOC 25-1069 | $72,990 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~1,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Sociologists SOC 19-3041 | $106,030 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~300 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Urban Studies/Affairs programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
- Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
- Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
- Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
- Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
- Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and writing, among others.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as an Urban and Regional Planner or in related fields such as sociology or social sciences education.
What is the job outlook for Urban Studies graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.4% and around 3,400 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Urban Studies/Affairs?+
Urban Studies/Affairs is CIP 45.1201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Urban Studies/Affairs (CIP 45.12). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of social science principles to the study of urban institutions and the forces influencing urban social and political life. Includes instruction in urban theory, the development and evolution of urban areas, urban sociology, principles of urban and social planning, and the politics and economics of urban government and services.
How many institutions offer Urban Studies/Affairs programs?+
90 U.S. institutions reported Urban Studies/Affairs graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 31 states, awarding 1,201 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Urban Studies/Affairs graduates.
How much do Urban Studies/Affairs graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Urban and Regional Planners occupation, which Urban Studies/Affairs most directly leads to, pays a median of $89,320 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Urban Studies/Affairs field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,811, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Urban Studies/Affairs graduates, so its figures match the Urban Studies/Affairs program page.
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