2026 Best Urban Studies Schools in Pennsylvania

Urban Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their urban studies programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for urban studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Urban Studies Schools in Pennsylvania

Best Schools for Urban Studies in Pennsylvania

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall urban studies education in Pennsylvania.

Top Schools in Urban Studies

1

University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

17 Urban Studies Degrees Awarded

$99,682 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for urban studies. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 17 urban studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $99,682 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. More information about a degree in urban studies from University Of Pennsylvania

2

Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

10 Urban Studies Degrees Awarded

$35,668 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong urban studies program will find one at Bryn Mawr College, which ranked #2. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 urban studies students who graduated with this degree at Bryn Mawr College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban studies program make about $35,668 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,069. Read more about the urban studies program at Bryn Mawr College

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 10 schools evaluated.

• 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.