2026 Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Urban Studies/Affairs programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their urban studies/affairs programs.
College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best urban studies/affairs schools.
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Best Schools for Urban Studies/Affairs in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall urban studies/affairs education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Urban Studies/Affairs
Our analysis ranked University Of Pennsylvania the best school in the country for a degree in urban studies/affairs. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 17 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Students looking for a strong urban studies/affairs program will find one at New York University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 30 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from New York University generally make around $64,516. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
More information about a degree in urban studies/affairs from New York University
University Of Maryland College Park is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban studies/affairs, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $76,569. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
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Barnard College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban studies/affairs, landing the #4 spot this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 93% of students finish within six years. Barnard College awarded about 29 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $40,294. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
More information about a degree in urban studies/affairs from Barnard College
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. There were roughly 22 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn around $72,222 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #6 for urban studies/affairs this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 11 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Fordham University placed #7 among the best urban studies/affairs schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 13 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Hunter College landed the #8 spot for urban studies/affairs this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 96 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $72,012 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,091.
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University At Buffalo landed the #9 spot for urban studies/affairs this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 12 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from University At Buffalo earn around $52,403 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete this degree.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for University At Buffalo
Cuny Queens College placed #10 among the best urban studies/affairs schools. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Cuny Queens College graduates 53% of students within six years. About 35 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $52,912 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,201 to complete this degree.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for Cuny Queens College
Suny At Albany ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs schools. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. Suny At Albany awarded about 15 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $44,736. Suny At Albany graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
More information about a degree in urban studies/affairs from Suny At Albany
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #12 for urban studies/affairs this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 12 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $44,263 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Bryn Mawr College earned the #13 position for urban studies/affairs this year. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 10 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at Bryn Mawr College in the most recent year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Bryn Mawr College earn a median of $35,668 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,069.
More information about a degree in urban studies/affairs from Bryn Mawr College
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 42 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.