2026 Best Urban Studies Schools in Virginia
Urban Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best urban studies schools.
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Best Schools for Urban Studies in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall urban studies education in Virginia.
Top Schools in Urban Studies
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best urban studies schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 26 urban studies degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their urban studies degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $60,004 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
Read more about the urban studies program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 52 urban studies degrees in the most recent data year. Urban Studies graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $49,570 early in their careers. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $26,416 in student loans.
More information about a degree in urban studies from Virginia Commonwealth University
A rank of #3 makes Norfolk State University one of the top schools for urban studies. Located in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public university. Norfolk State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 urban studies students who graduated with this degree at Norfolk State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban studies program make about $54,971 in their early career.
More information about a degree in urban studies from Norfolk State University
More Urban Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 4 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.
