Best Urban Studies/Affairs Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
23
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$7,346
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$35,573
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of California-Berkeley
Grad rate: 93.5% |
CA | +$235,628 | $63,298 | $42,708 | $14,444 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
San Francisco State University
Grad rate: 52.2% |
CA | +$208,278 | $58,721 | $25,258 | $18,600 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Grad rate: 59.7% |
CT | +$146,582 | $55,065 | $20,917 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Grad rate: 57.8% |
CT | +$143,838 | $55,065 | $21,603 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Grad rate: 63.9% |
CT | +$130,126 | $55,065 | $25,031 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of Connecticut-Stamford
Grad rate: 59.5% |
CT | +$119,302 | $55,065 | $27,737 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate: 56.1% |
CA | +$113,935 | $52,679 | $20,317 | $13,612 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
University of Connecticut
Grad rate: 83.5% |
CT | +$83,962 | $55,065 | $36,572 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
University of California-San Diego
Grad rate: 87.7% |
CA | +$65,615 | $53,727 | $36,325 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Rutgers University-Camden
Grad rate: 65.7% |
NJ | +$53,402 | $53,255 | $33,812 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Grad rate: 84.7% |
NJ | +$47,722 | $53,255 | $35,232 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
CUNY Queens College
Grad rate: 58.4% |
NY | +$37,156 | $47,410 | $13,643 | $12,201 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Grad rate: 58.5% |
WA | +$33,565 | $49,864 | $24,528 | $18,965 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
University of California-Irvine
Grad rate: 86.3% |
CA | +$32,446 | $51,859 | $36,121 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Grad rate: 84.0% |
WA | +$10,549 | $49,864 | $30,282 | $18,965 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Grad rate: 53.3% |
MN | +$7,680 | $46,897 | $22,565 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
New York University
Grad rate: 87.8% |
NY | -$82,664 | $53,691 | $79,121 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Barnard College
Grad rate: 92.2% |
NY | -$85,322 | $55,821 | $84,023 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Grad rate: 84.6% |
MN | -$96,514 | $44,364 | $29,013 | $20,550 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Virginia Commonwealth University
Grad rate: 64.9% |
VA | -$150,465 | $43,129 | $34,346 | $26,416 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
University of Illinois Chicago
Grad rate: 60.9% |
IL | -$248,298 | $36,329 | $26,998 | $19,916 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Cleveland State University
Grad rate: 48.9% |
OH | -$298,232 | $34,516 | $26,310 | $32,083 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 96.5% |
PA | -$339,312 | $42,182 | $85,738 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Urban Studies/Affairs Degrees by State
Browse Urban Studies/Affairs programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.