2026 Best Value Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools
[Urban Studies](/majors/social-sciences/urban-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 123 schools to find the best return on investment for urban studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the urban studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Urban Studies Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for urban studies in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the urban studies program here. Urban Studies graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $72,012 early in their careers. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Queens College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value urban studies schools. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,201 to complete the urban studies program here. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $62,828. That is a strong return on a $12,201 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the urban studies program here. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $76,569. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Harvard University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value urban studies schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Typical student debt for urban studies graduates is $16,616. Early-career urban studies graduates make about $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Norfolk State University one of the best values for urban studies. Set in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,180, compared with $21,682 for out-of-state students. Early-career urban studies graduates make about $54,971. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia State University landed the #6 spot for urban studies value this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban studies graduates is $26,091. Early-career urban studies graduates make about $52,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Cleveland State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value urban studies schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $32,083 to complete the urban studies program here. Urban Studies graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $38,929 early in their careers. Set against $32,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #8 position for value in urban studies this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Typical student debt for urban studies graduates is $26,416. Urban Studies graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $65,514 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Cuny Graduate School And University Center landed the #9 spot for urban studies value this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,235, while out-of-state students pay about $15,185. Urban Studies graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from Cuny Graduate School And University Center generally make around $72,222. That is a strong return on a $17,921 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #10 spot for urban studies value this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban studies graduates is $23,393. Early-career urban studies graduates make about $60,004. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Boston University came in at #11 for value in urban studies this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the urban studies program here. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California placed #12 among the best values for urban studies. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the urban studies program here. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Northeastern University came in at #13 for value in urban studies this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Students borrow a median of $25,611 to complete the urban studies program here. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $74,800. Set against $25,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Tufts University placed #14 among the best values for urban studies. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Urban Studies graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans. Urban Studies graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $64,224 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Other Urban Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Urban Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Urban Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 123 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
