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
9
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$309,462
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$39,158
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center | NY | +$804,440 | $82,222 | N/A | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Georgia State University
Grad rate: 54.3% |
GA | +$625,410 | $75,924 | $26,535 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
CUNY Hunter College
Grad rate: 58.7% |
NY | +$410,860 | $63,874 | $13,310 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
CUNY Queens College
Grad rate: 58.4% |
NY | +$359,734 | $61,351 | $13,643 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of Maryland-College Park
Grad rate: 88.9% |
MD | +$318,454 | $60,730 | $28,073 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Virginia Commonwealth University
Grad rate: 64.9% |
VA | +$228,868 | $56,878 | $34,346 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Tufts University
Grad rate: 93.5% |
MA | +$172,580 | $59,089 | $84,600 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
DePaul University
Grad rate: 69.7% |
IL | +$68,126 | $51,353 | $59,467 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Eastern University
Grad rate: 57.6% |
PA | -$203,306 | $37,164 | $53,293 | 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.