2026 Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in New York
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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for urban studies/affairs students.
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Best Schools for Urban Studies/Affairs in New York
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
New York University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in urban studies/affairs. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from New York University earn around $64,516 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for New York University
Students looking for a strong urban studies/affairs program will find one at Barnard College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Barnard College graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban studies/affairs degree from Barnard College earn around $40,294 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in urban studies/affairs, ranking #3. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public university. About 22 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,921.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban studies/affairs, landing the #4 spot 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%. About 11 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the urban studies/affairs program make about $86,770 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
Read more about the urban studies/affairs program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
Fordham University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in urban studies/affairs, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban studies/affairs degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $59,403. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans.
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Cuny Hunter College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs schools. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 96 urban studies/affairs degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent 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. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete this degree.
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University At Buffalo placed #7 among the best urban studies/affairs schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 urban studies/affairs students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans.
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Cuny Queens College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Queens. About 53% of students finish within six years. Cuny Queens College awarded about 35 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Urban Studies/affairs graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $52,912 early in their careers. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $12,201 in student loans.
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Suny At Albany ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best urban studies/affairs schools. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Suny At Albany awarded about 15 urban studies/affairs degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban studies/affairs program make about $44,736 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
See the full urban studies/affairs program report for Suny At Albany
More Urban Studies/Affairs Rankings
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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 · 20 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.