2026 Best Urban Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Urban Studies graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 123 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Urban Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Cuny Graduate School And University Center earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,235 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,185. Cuny Graduate School And University Center Urban Studies students take on a median of $17,921 in debt. More on Cuny Graduate School And University Center
A rank of #2 makes Tufts University one of the top choices in the United States. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school based in Medford, MA. Tufts University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,704. Typical Urban Studies student debt is $17,074. Get the full Tufts University report
San Jose State University came in at #3 on this year's Urban Studies ranking in the United States. This public school is set in San Jose, CA. San Jose State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. See the full San Jose State University profile
Out of the 123 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Georgia landed the #4 spot. University Of Georgia is a public school based in Athens, GA. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Georgia
Out of the 123 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Utah landed the #5 spot. University Of Utah is a public school based in Salt Lake City, UT. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical Urban Studies student debt is $20,798. Read more about University Of Utah
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #6 among Urban Studies schools in the United States. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public school based in Kansas City, MO. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. The median Urban Studies program debt is $23,741. See the full University Of Missouri Kansas City profile
Virginia Commonwealth University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. The median Urban Studies program debt is $26,416. Read more about Virginia Commonwealth University
College Of Charleston came in at #8 in this year's ranking. College Of Charleston is a public school based in Charleston, SC. College Of Charleston graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,978, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. The median Urban Studies program debt is $24,733. See the full College Of Charleston profile
California State University Long Beach ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Set in Long Beach, CA, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete their Urban Studies program here. Read the full report on California State University Long Beach
Georgia State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia State University is a public institution. Georgia State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Georgia State University Urban Studies students take on a median of $26,091 in debt. Read the full report on Georgia State University
Canisius College
Canisius College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Read more about Canisius College
Barnard College
Barnard College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Get the full Barnard College report
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Maryland College Park report
Ohio University Main Campus placed #14 among Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Michigan Dearborn did well this year, earning the #15 position. See the full University Of Michigan Dearborn profile
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Suny College At Buffalo
University Of California Berkeley came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of California Berkeley report
Xavier University did well this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Xavier University profile
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Read more about University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Read more about Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Read the full report on University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Augsburg College
Augsburg College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Read more about Augsburg College
University Of Toledo landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Toledo
Rest of the Top 50 Best Urban Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Wheaton College Illinois
Old Dominion University came in at #27 in this year's ranking. See the full Old Dominion University profile
University Of The District Of Columbia ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. More on University Of The District Of Columbia
Worcester State University did well this year, earning the #29 position. More on Worcester State University
Eastern University placed #30 among Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Eastern University
Dillard University landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. More on Dillard University
Ohio University Eastern Campus landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Ohio University Eastern Campus report
Arizona State University came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read more about Arizona State University
Ohio University Southern Campus ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Read more about Ohio University Southern Campus
California State University Northridge ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Read the full report on California State University Northridge
University Of California Irvine placed #36 among Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read more about University Of California Irvine
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #37 among Urban Studies schools in the United States. See the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas profile
Wright State University Main Campus placed #38 among Urban Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Wright State University Main Campus report
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Get the full Columbia University In The City Of New York report
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Swarthmore College came in at #41 in this year's ranking. See the full Swarthmore College profile
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #42 among Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
Boston University landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. More on Boston University
Monroe Community College placed #44 among Urban Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Monroe Community College report
Cuny Queens College placed #45 among Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Cuny Queens College
Ohio University Lancaster Campus landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Ohio University Lancaster Campus
Brown University
Brown University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Urban Studies schools. Get the full Brown University report
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read more about Cuny Brooklyn College
Rhodes College
Rhodes College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Read more about Rhodes College
Related Urban Studies Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Urban Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Urban Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Urban Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Urban Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Urban Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Urban Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 123 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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