2027 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[Urban Studies](/majors/social-sciences/urban-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong urban studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for urban studies students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
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
For return on investment in urban studies, no school beat University Of Georgia this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Urban Studies graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Norfolk State University earned it the #2 place for urban studies. Located in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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 is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Urban Studies graduates carry a median of $26,091 in student loans. Urban Studies graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $52,589 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
A rank of #4 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the best values for urban studies. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban studies graduates is $26,416. Urban Studies graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $49,570 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,416 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Urban Studies graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. Urban Studies graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Rhodes College placed #6 among the best values for urban studies. Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Students from in state pay about $57,110 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for urban studies graduates is $23,078. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from Rhodes College generally make around $40,807. Set against $23,078 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
