2026 Best Value Urban Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Urban Studies doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 123 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Urban Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University this year in the United States. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical Urban Studies student debt is $23,393. Graduates go on to earn a median of $81,698 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University has an acceptance rate of 55%. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
A rank of #2 makes Cleveland State University one of the best values in the United States. This public school is set in Cleveland, OH. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $32,083 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cleveland State University has an acceptance rate of 91%. Read the full report on Cleveland State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Utah one of the best values in the United States. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. The median Urban Studies program debt is $20,798. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,170 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Utah
You'll get strong value at University Of Louisville, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Louisville, KY, University Of Louisville is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. The median Urban Studies program debt is $21,910. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,899. That is a strong return on a $21,910 median debt. University Of Louisville has an acceptance rate of 79%. Read more about University Of Louisville
Out of the 123 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Portland State University landed the #5 spot. Based in Portland, OR, Portland State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Portland State University Urban Studies students take on a median of $36,850 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,906 ten years after entry. Set against $36,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%. Get the full Portland State University report
University Of Southern California placed #6 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $71,647. The median Urban Studies program debt is $15,625. University Of Southern California alumni report median earnings of $92,498 a decade after entry. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants. Read more about University Of Southern California
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #7 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas report
Stella And Charles Guttman Community College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Stella And Charles Guttman Community College report
University Of Pennsylvania placed #9 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. More on University Of Pennsylvania
Aquinas College Michigan landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Aquinas College Michigan profile
University Of San Francisco placed #11 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. See the full University Of San Francisco profile
Montclair State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. See the full Montclair State University profile
Ohio University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read the full report on Ohio University Main Campus
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #14 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. See the full Columbia University In The City Of New York profile
San Jose State University landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on San Jose State University
Saint Cloud State University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Saint Cloud State University profile
Rhodes College
Rhodes College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on Rhodes College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
University Of Delaware offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about University Of Delaware
University Of California Berkeley came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of California Berkeley
Barnard College
Barnard College placed #21 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. See the full Barnard College profile
Cuny City College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Cuny City College report
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Carnegie Mellon University
Trinity College
Trinity College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Trinity College profile
University Of Georgia ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. Read the full report on University Of Georgia
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Urban Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Morgan State University landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Morgan State University
Old Dominion University placed #27 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Old Dominion University
Morehouse College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. More on Morehouse College
Loyola University Chicago offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Loyola University Chicago report
The College Of Wooster landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full The College Of Wooster report
Southern Connecticut State University landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Southern Connecticut State University
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. See the full Suny At Albany profile
Wright State University Main Campus placed #33 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Wright State University Main Campus report
Coppin State University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. Get the full Coppin State University report
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
Boston University ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. Get the full Boston University report
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. Get the full Minnesota State University Mankato report
Fordham University placed #38 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Fordham University
Canisius College
Canisius College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Canisius College
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #40 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. More on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Bryn Mawr College placed #41 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. More on Bryn Mawr College
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. Read the full report on Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Roosevelt University placed #43 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. See the full Roosevelt University profile
University Of Memphis landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Memphis report
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
University Of Connecticut placed #47 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Connecticut report
College Of Charleston landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. More on College Of Charleston
Haverford College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Haverford College report
Tufts University
Tufts University placed #50 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. More on Tufts University
Related Urban Studies Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Urban Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Urban Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Urban Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Urban Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Urban Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Urban Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Urban Studies Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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