2027 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Urban Studies](/majors/social-sciences/urban-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong urban studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value urban studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the urban studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Urban Studies Schools
Wayne State University tops our 2027 list of the best value urban studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Urban Studies graduates carry a median of $25,205 in student loans. Urban Studies graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $43,811 early in their careers. Set against $25,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Cleveland State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value urban studies schools. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Urban Studies graduates carry a median of $32,083 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $38,929. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
