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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Urban Studies (Income $0-$30k)

28 Ranked Colleges
300 Degrees Awarded
$25,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Urban Studies is the 210th most popular major in the country with 1,475 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, urban studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $37,971 and had an average of $24,376 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 300 urban studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in urban studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality urban studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the urban studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Urban Studies (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Hunter College

New York, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hunter College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hunter is a large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 39 masters’s urban studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Hunter not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter are $20,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Hunter College

#2

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Tufts University landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Medford, Massachusetts, and it awarded 25 masters’s urban studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tufts, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts University are $55,168.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Tufts University

#3

Queens College

Queens, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Queens College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Queens College is a fairly large public school situated in Queens, New York. It awarded 36 masters’s urban studies degrees in 2019-2020.

QC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at QC are $21,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Urban Studies at QC

#4

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maryland - College Park landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in College Park, Maryland, this large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified masters’s urban studies students in 2019-2020.

UMCP also made our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Urban Studies at University of Maryland - College Park

#5

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northeastern University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern also took the #13 spot in our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University are $25,558.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Northeastern

#6

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#5 in overall quality

Virginia Tech landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech also made our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Virginia Tech are $30,547, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Virginia Tech

#7

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Boston University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Boston U is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 11 masters’s urban studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Boston University

#8

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also made our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Southern California Urban Studies Report

#16 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s urban studies degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State Mankato are $8,788, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Urban Studies Report

#20 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. University of Nebraska at Omaha is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s urban studies degrees to qualified students.

UNOMAHA also made our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska at Omaha are $16,374, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Urban Studies Report

#11

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s urban studies degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Urban Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#12

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. VCU is a large public school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 17 masters’s urban studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at VCU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Virginia Commonwealth University are $29,228.

Read more about Urban Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University

#13

Savannah State University

Savannah, Georgia

With a ranking of #13, Savannah State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Savannah State University is located in Savannah, Georgia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s urban studies degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Savannah State University are $14,906, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Savannah State University Urban Studies Report

#25 in overall quality

University of Central Oklahoma did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. UCO is a fairly large public school situated in Edmond, Oklahoma. It awarded 3 masters’s urban studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UCO not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCO are $17,913.

Full UCO Urban Studies Report

#15

Portland State University

Portland, Oregon

Portland State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 1 masters’s urban studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Portland State University, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Portland State University are $23,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Portland State University

#16

University of New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana
#23 in overall quality

University of New Orleans landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of New Orleans is a public institution located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNO did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNO are $13,678, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Urban Studies at UNO

#17

Georgia State University

Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Georgia State is located in Atlanta, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 masters’s urban studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Georgia State, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia State University are $24,790, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Georgia State Urban Studies Report

#18

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#21 in overall quality

Cleveland State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s urban studies degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cleveland State University, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622.

Full Cleveland State University Urban Studies Report

#19

Rowan University

Glassboro, New Jersey
#22 in overall quality

Rowan University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Glassboro, New Jersey, this fairly large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s urban studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rowan, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rowan University are $15,787, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Rowan

#20

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#12 in overall quality

Drexel University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s urban studies degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Drexel has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Drexel University are $37,074, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Drexel University

#21

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Roosevelt University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s urban studies degrees to qualified students.

Roosevelt also made our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Roosevelt are $21,605.

Full Roosevelt Urban Studies Report

#22

Fordham University

Bronx, New York
#11 in overall quality

Fordham University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Bronx, New York, and it awarded 2 masters’s urban studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Fordham U also made our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fordham U are $23,846, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Urban Studies at Fordham U

#23

Eastern University

Saint Davids, Pennsylvania

Eastern University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Davids, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s urban studies students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern University are $13,610.

Read more about Urban Studies at Eastern University

#24

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. University of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s urban studies degrees to qualified students.

USFCA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USFCA are $26,710, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Urban Studies at USFCA

#25

Xavier University

Cincinnati, Ohio
#19 in overall quality

Xavier University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Urban Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Xavier University is a medium-sized school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 4 masters’s urban studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Xavier not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Xavier University are $12,076.

Read more about Urban Studies at Xavier University

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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