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2026 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in Pennsylvania

[Urban Studies](/majors/social-sciences/urban-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for urban studies students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Urban Studies Schools in Pennsylvania

2026 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in Pennsylvania

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the urban studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Urban Studies Schools

1

University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

$68,686 In-State Tuition & Fees

$16,155 Avg Student Debt

$111,371 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 best value for urban studies in Pennsylvania. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the urban studies program here. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.

2

Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA

$65,920 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,069 Avg Student Debt

$75,217 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes Bryn Mawr College one of the best values for urban studies. Located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,920 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,069 to complete the urban studies program here. Soon after graduation, urban studies degree recipients from Bryn Mawr College generally make around $35,668. Set against $23,069 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.

View All Urban Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 10 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

• 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.