2026 Best Value Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Urban Studies/Affairs](/majors/social-sciences/urban-studies/urban-studies-affairs/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong urban studies/affairs education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value urban studies/affairs schools.
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2026 Best Value Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the urban studies/affairs degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Urban Studies/Affairs Schools
Cuny Hunter College tops our 2026 list of the best value urban studies/affairs schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $72,012 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #2 place for urban studies/affairs. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $12,201 in student loans. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $52,912 early in their careers. Set against $12,201 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Students looking for strong value in urban studies/affairs will find it at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #3. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for urban studies/affairs graduates is $20,836. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $76,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny At Albany earned it the #4 place for urban studies/affairs. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Typical student debt for urban studies/affairs graduates is $23,521. Early-career urban studies/affairs graduates make about $44,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Students looking for strong value in urban studies/affairs will find it at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #5. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the urban studies/affairs program here. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
University At Buffalo earned the #6 position for value in urban studies/affairs this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Early-career urban studies/affairs graduates make about $52,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #7 for value in urban studies/affairs this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $44,263 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for value in urban studies/affairs this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
New York University came in at #9 for value in urban studies/affairs this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Barnard College landed the #10 spot for urban studies/affairs value this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $69,888. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Barnard College earn a median of $40,294 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Bryn Mawr College came in at #11 for value in urban studies/affairs this year. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,920. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $23,069 in student loans. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Bryn Mawr College earn a median of $35,668 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Fordham University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value urban studies/affairs schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,470. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. Set against $25,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
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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 · 42 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.
