2026 Best Urban Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region

Urban Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their urban studies programs.

College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best urban studies schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Urban Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region

Best Schools for Urban Studies in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall urban studies education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in Urban Studies

1

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

17 Urban Studies Degrees Awarded

$27,966 Median Starting Salary

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in urban studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 urban studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $27,966 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,550 to complete this degree. Read more about the urban studies program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities

2

University Of Missouri Kansas City
Kansas City, MO

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

14 Urban Studies Degrees Awarded

$60,324 Median Starting Salary

University Of Missouri Kansas City is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 14 urban studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Typical student debt for the program is $23,741. Read more about the urban studies program at University Of Missouri Kansas City

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 · 8 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.