by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 91 U.S. colleges awarded 1,300 degrees and certificates in Urban Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 69% of graduates. College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Urban Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $47,147 one year after completing, rising to $66,212 after four years.
Do you get energized by the hustle-and-bustle of cities and want to make them better places to live? If so, a major in Urban Studies might be right for you! This major focuses on the application of social science principles to the study of urban living. You will learn how city dwellers live and what influences their social and political life. Upon graduating with a degree in Urban Studies, you will be prepared to solve complicated issues that affect cities.
Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary major. Since cities are made up of many different facets, it is important to gain a working knowledge of many related fields. Classes include subjects like history, public policy, government, economics, sociology, social theory, urban theory, history of urban areas, principles of urban and social planning, and the politics and economics of urban government and services.
A major in Urban Studies covers Urban Studies/affairs.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, urban studies is a widely-pursued major, with 1,300 degrees awarded annually. 91 colleges award urban studies degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 80.
By level, the 1,300 awards include 12 associate degrees, 902 bachelor’s degrees, 345 master’s degrees and 41 doctorates.
Women earned 58% of urban studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (761 of 1,300). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (556) and Hispanic or Latino (252), and international students earned 76.
College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Urban Studies Schools ranking, including 29 for bachelor’s degrees, 9 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks urban studies schools within 16 states. In all, 91 colleges offer urban studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Urban Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common urban studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 902 of the 1,300 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to urban studies call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Law and Government and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
The field of urban development and planning is a dynamic and diverse profession requiring a broad range of skills. No matter what career direction you take, you will be asked to look and solve problems of urban life. This means you should be able to understand people and have a passion for improving human life. You will spend much of your time analyzing demographic information to dissect trends and draw conclusions.
Students should gain an understanding of local, state, and federal government programs and processes. Other important skills to have are the ability to think critically, problem solve, and analyze data. Cities have diverse populations so you should be prepared to work well with many different people.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an urban studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 12 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 902 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 345 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 41 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to urban studies, at 54.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 54.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Urban Studies, with an average median salary of $103,763; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Labor Relations Teacher, Humanities Teacher, Urban Planning Professor and Naval Science Teacher.
Urban Studies majors will be able to go in careers in business, government, law politics, public policy, advocacy, and academics. Common career titles for an Urban Studies major are city planner, community organizer, director of housing development, homeless advocate, transit planner, and zoning administrator. Some careers may require advanced training.
The occupation related to urban studies with the most projected jobs is Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other, at 1,421,275.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Sociologists | 143,776 | 3.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Urban Studies graduates earn a median $47,147 one year after completing their program, $66,212 after four years and $65,763 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47,147 |
| 4 years | $66,212 |
| 5 years | $65,763 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to urban studies is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Sociologists | $74,866 |
Urban Studies includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Urban Studies/Affairs (1,300). It has 13 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 186,896 degrees a year; the largest are Economics (48,196), Political Science and Government (45,425) and Sociology (30,816). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,300 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 48,196 |
| Political Science and Government | 45,425 |
| Sociology | 30,816 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,558 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 12,780 |
| Criminology | 10,920 |
| Anthropology | 10,836 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,459 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,820 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 574 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
