by our College Data Analytics Team
[Urban Studies/Affairs](/majors/social-sciences/urban-studies/urban-studies-affairs/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for urban studies/affairs students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in urban studies/affairs, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Norfolk State University, our #1 best value for urban studies/affairs in Virginia. Set in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,180, with out-of-state students paying around $21,682. Early-career urban studies/affairs graduates make about $54,971. Norfolk State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value urban studies/affairs schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Typical student debt for urban studies/affairs graduates is $26,416. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $49,570. That is a strong return on a $26,416 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value urban studies/affairs schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Urban Studies/affairs graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.