2026 Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Far Western Region
Urban Studies/Affairs degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their urban studies/affairs programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools to find the best for urban studies/affairs students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Urban Studies/Affairs in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the urban studies/affairs degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Urban Studies/Affairs
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for urban studies/affairs. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 13 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #2 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for urban studies/affairs. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 13 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong urban studies/affairs program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 26 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $58,171. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,444 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for urban studies/affairs. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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University Of California San Diego is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in urban studies/affairs, ranking #5. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 50 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $37,074 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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California State University Northridge ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. California State University Northridge awarded about 29 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from California State University Northridge earn around $46,826 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,612 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine placed #7 among the best urban studies/affairs schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 60 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $34,385. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 23 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University earned the #9 position for urban studies/affairs this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 11 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $50,008 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,600.
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University Of Washington Tacoma Campus landed the #10 spot for urban studies/affairs this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 37 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent data year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of $47,585 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,965.
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Portland State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs schools. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Portland State University graduates 53% of students within six years. Portland State University awarded about 34 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $45,870 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $36,850 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #12 for urban studies/affairs this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Las Vegas. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 22 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nevada Las Vegas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn around $46,712 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in urban studies/affairs from University Of Nevada Las Vegas
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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 · 17 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.