Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Best colleges for Urban Studies/Affairs in New York

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Program-level earnings — not school prestige — rank these. Among the New York programs in the federal field-of-study file, New York University leads: its Urban Studies/Affairs graduates earn a median $81,123 four years after finishing, against the field's $62,532 national median. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026.)

New York Urban Studies/Affairs programs by graduate earnings
#CollegeGrad earnings, 4 yrsVs field median
1New York University$81,123+$18,591
2Barnard College$79,807+$17,275
3CUNY Queens College$74,979+$12,447
4Vassar College$59,930-$2,602

How big is the earnings gap between New York Urban Studies/Affairs programs?

$21,193 separates the top and bottom of this list — $81,123 at New York University against $59,930 at Vassar College, four years after finishing. Same field, same state, same federal measure: where you study moves pay by that much.

Do New York Urban Studies/Affairs graduates earn more than the national median?

The state's strongest program pays $18,591 above the $62,532 national median for the field. Program-level medians come from federal tax records of graduates who received aid, so they track actual pay rather than advertised salaries.

Frequently asked questions

Which New York college is best for Urban Studies/Affairs?
By graduate earnings, New York University — its Urban Studies/Affairs bachelor's graduates earn a median $81,123 four years out, the highest of the 4 New York programs in the federal file.
What do Urban Studies/Affairs graduates earn in New York?
Across the ranked New York programs, median earnings four years after completion run from $59,930 to $81,123. The field's national median is $62,532.
Is a Urban Studies/Affairs degree worth it?
On national medians, yes — Urban Studies/Affairs graduates earn $14,172/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. See the full field profile for payback math.