2026 Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in California
Urban Studies/Affairs is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their urban studies/affairs programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for urban studies/affairs students pursuing a degree.
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Featured Urban Studies/Affairs Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Best Schools for Urban Studies/Affairs in California
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
Our analysis ranked San Jose State University the best school in the country for a degree in urban studies/affairs. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 13 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in urban studies/affairs from San Jose State University
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban studies/affairs, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Read more about the urban studies/affairs program at Stanford University
Students looking for a strong urban studies/affairs program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $58,171 early in their careers. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,444 in student loans.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for University Of California Berkeley
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. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 21 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the urban studies/affairs program at University Of Southern California
Students looking for a strong urban studies/affairs program will find one at University Of California San Diego, which ranked #5. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California San Diego awarded about 50 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $37,074. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
Read more about the urban studies/affairs program at University Of California San Diego
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. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $46,826. Students borrow a median of $13,612 to complete this degree.
Read more about the urban studies/affairs program at California State University Northridge
University Of California Irvine ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 60 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $34,385 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for University Of California Irvine
San Diego State University placed #8 among the best urban studies/affairs schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. 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. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from San Diego State University earn around $51,162 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,417.
More information about a degree in urban studies/affairs from San Diego State University
San Francisco State University landed the #9 spot for urban studies/affairs this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Francisco State University awarded about 11 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban studies/affairs program make about $50,008 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,600.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for San Francisco State University
More Urban Studies/Affairs Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 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.
