Urban Studies and Affairs: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Urban Studies and Affairs explores the complex dynamics shaping modern cities and metropolitan regions through a multidisciplinary lens. This program equips students with analytical frameworks to understand how social, economic, and political forces influence urban development, governance, and community life.
- Urban Theory: Examines foundational and contemporary models that explain city formation, spatial organization, and the social processes that define urban environments.
- Urban Development and Evolution: Investigates historical and contemporary patterns of city growth, transformation, and decline, including the impact of migration, industrialization, and infrastructure.
- Urban Sociology: Studies the social structures, relationships, and inequalities that emerge within urban settings, with attention to race, class, housing, and community networks.
- Urban and Social Planning: Focuses on strategies for sustainable city design, land use policy, and equitable development that respond to demographic change and environmental challenges.
- Urban Governance and Public Policy: Analyzes the political systems, decision-making processes, and fiscal mechanisms that shape municipal services, zoning, and public administration.
- Economics of Urban Areas: Explores how economic forces—such as labor markets, real estate, and regional investment—affect urban competitiveness, affordability, and spatial distribution of opportunity.
Urban Studies and Affairs Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Urban Studies and Affairs Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Urban Studies and Affairs degrees, including Managers, All Other, Sociologists and Urban and Regional Planners. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 694,510 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Sociologists 19-3041 | $101,690 | $60,710 - $168,590 | 2,950 | $48.89 |
| Urban and Regional Planners 19-3051 | $83,720 | $55,590 - $128,550 | 43,040 | $40.25 |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other 25-1069 | $75,040 | $45,280 - $176,350 | 17,540 | N/A |
Urban Studies and Affairs Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $66,715 in Utah to $130,280 in District of Columbia—a 95% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Oregon, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 694,510 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Urban Studies and Affairs by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 93 institutions offering Urban Studies and Affairs programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Urban Studies and Affairs is found at CUNY Hunter College (101 graduates), University of California (UCI), Irvine (71 graduates), Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (55 graduates), University of California (UCSD), San Diego (54 graduates), and New York University (NYU) (38 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,343 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
101 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
71 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| University of Washington (UW Tacoma) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacoma.uw.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
34 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Barnard College |
Bachelor's
|
31 | New York, New York | Private | barnard.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
28 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
26 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
24 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
24 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Tufts University |
Master's
|
22 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Fordham University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Trinity College |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Hartford, Connecticut | Private | trincoll.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Master's
|
18 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
17 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| College of Charleston (CofC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
17 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | cofc.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of New Orleans (UNO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | new.uno.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
14 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Post-Master's
|
13 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
|
13 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
12 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
12 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Loyola Marymount University (LMU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Los Angeles, California | Private | lmu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
11 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
11 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
|
11 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of the District of Columbia (UDC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Washington, District of Columbia | Public | udc.edu |
| Bryn Mawr College |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | Private | brynmawr.edu |
| Norfolk State University (NSU) |
Master's
|
10 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | nsu.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| Haverford College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Haverford, Pennsylvania | Private | haverford.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Trinity University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | new.trinity.edu |
| CUNY Stella and Charles Guttman Community College |
Associate's
|
8 | New York, New York | Public | guttman.cuny.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
7 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Rhodes College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | rhodes.edu |
| Tennessee State University (TSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Nashville, Tennessee | Public | tnstate.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Worcester State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | worcester.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Wheaton College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Wheaton, Illinois | Private | wheaton.edu |
| Morgan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | morgan.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| Augsburg University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | augsburg.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| The New School |
Bachelor's
|
4 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Master's
|
3 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| Rowan University |
Master's
|
3 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| Furman University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Greenville, South Carolina | Private | furman.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Dillard University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | dillard.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Camden, New Jersey | Public | camden.rutgers.edu |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | New York, New York | Public | bmcc.cuny.edu |
| Manhattan College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Riverdale, New York | Private | manhattan.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Morehouse College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | morehouse.edu |
| Elmhurst University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Elmhurst, Illinois | Private | elmhurst.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Master's
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | hssu.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Wright State University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Master's
|
1 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| Albright College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Reading, Pennsylvania | Private | albright.edu |
| Drexel University |
Master's
|
1 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Urban Studies and Affairs programs
How much can I earn with a Urban Studies and Affairs degree?
Salaries for Urban Studies and Affairs graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Sociologists earn around $101,690. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $130,280 compared to $66,715 in Utah. Approximately 694,510 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Urban Studies and Affairs programs?
Currently 93 accredited institutions offer Urban Studies and Affairs degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include CUNY Hunter College (101 graduates), University of California (UCI), Irvine (71 graduates), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (55 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Urban Studies and Affairs growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,477 in 2010 to a peak of 1,473 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,343 in 2023-24. This represents a 9% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Urban Studies and Affairs degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Sociologists, and Urban and Regional Planners. Related occupations employ approximately 694,510 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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