by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Urban Studies/Affairs involves the study of Urban Studies/affairs. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Social Science Principles To The Study Of Urban Institutions And The Forces Influencing Urban Social And Political Life. Includes Instruction In Urban Theory, The Development And Evolution Of Urban Areas, Urban Sociology, Principles Of Urban And Social Planning, And The Politics And Economics Of Urban Government And Services. Examples: [Urban And Regional Studies]. Continue reading for the important information every urban studies/affairs student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering urban studies/affairs programs.
Across the country, urban studies/affairs is a popular field of study, with 1,343 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools ranking analyzes these 93 schools to determine the best overall colleges for urban studies/affairs students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of urban studies/affairs programs later in this article.
Programs in Urban Studies/Affairs emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations urban studies/affairs graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a urban studies/affairs program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a urban studies/affairs major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several urban studies/affairs degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 10 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 904 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 394 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 35 |
People currently working in careers related to urban studies/affairs tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 54.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in urban studies/affairs careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in urban studies/affairs opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to urban studies/affairs.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to urban studies/affairs.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Sociologists | 143,776 | 3.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of urban studies/affairs graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47,147 |
| 4 years | $60,363 |
| 5 years | $65,763 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for urban studies/affairs graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers urban studies/affairs grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Sociologists | $74,866 |
With 93 different urban studies/affairs programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased urban studies/affairs school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
