2026 Best Value Urban Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Urban Studies graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 123 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on 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 produce 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is Cuny Graduate School And University Center, our #1 best-value Urban Studies school in the United States. Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a public school based in New York, NY. Students from in state pay about $7,235 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,185 for out-of-state students. Cuny Graduate School And University Center Urban Studies students take on a median of $17,921 in debt. Median earnings reach $65,991 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 68% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Cuny Graduate School And University Center
You'll get strong value at San Jose State University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. About 85% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on San Jose State University
Out of the 123 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, California State University Long Beach landed the #3 spot. California State University Long Beach is a public school based in Long Beach, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. The median Urban Studies program debt is $15,671. Median earnings reach $64,403 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $15,671 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted. See the full California State University Long Beach profile
A rank of #4 makes University Of Utah one of the best values in the United States. Set in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. University Of Utah Urban Studies students take on a median of $20,798 in debt. Median earnings reach $67,170 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on University Of Utah
You'll get strong value at University Of Georgia, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete their Urban Studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,726. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%. More on University Of Georgia
Tufts University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school based in Medford, MA. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. The median Urban Studies program debt is $17,074. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $83,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted. See the full Tufts University profile
Georgia State University offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Graduates carry a median of $26,091 in student loans. Georgia State University alumni report median earnings of $47,384 a decade after entry. Set against $26,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%. More on Georgia State University
University Of Missouri Kansas City offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public school based in Kansas City, MO. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. The median Urban Studies program debt is $23,741. University Of Missouri Kansas City alumni report median earnings of $59,637 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%. Get the full University Of Missouri Kansas City report
Virginia Commonwealth University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Richmond, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Graduates carry a median of $26,416 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,128 ten years after entry. Set against $26,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 93% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Virginia Commonwealth University report
College Of Charleston ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. College Of Charleston is a public school based in Charleston, SC. Students from in state pay about $12,978 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,296. Graduates carry a median of $24,733 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,416. That is a strong return on a $24,733 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted. Read more about College Of Charleston
Northwestern University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full Northwestern University report
Aquinas College Michigan landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Aquinas College Michigan
Augsburg College
Augsburg College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Augsburg College profile
Depaul University placed #14 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. More on Depaul University
University Of Toledo ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. Read the full report on University Of Toledo
University Of Maryland College Park offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Lipscomb University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. See the full Lipscomb University profile
Cuny Queens College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. Get the full Cuny Queens College report
Northeastern University placed #19 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Northeastern University
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Suny College At Buffalo
Albright College
Albright College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Albright College
Swarthmore College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Urban Studies schools. Read more about Swarthmore College
Haverford College placed #23 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Haverford College
University Of California San Diego offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. See the full University Of California San Diego profile
Hampshire College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. More on Hampshire College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Urban Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Loyola Marymount University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Loyola Marymount University
Portland State University came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Portland State University report
Southern Connecticut State University placed #28 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Southern Connecticut State University
Montclair State University placed #29 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Montclair State University
Morehouse College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Morehouse College
Vassar College
Vassar College came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Vassar College
Wheaton College Illinois placed #32 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Wheaton College Illinois
Stanford University came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Stanford University report
Cuny Brooklyn College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Cuny Brooklyn College
Coppin State University landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Coppin State University
Furman University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Furman University profile
Rhodes College
Rhodes College placed #37 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. See the full Rhodes College profile
Manhattan College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. See the full Manhattan College profile
Ohio University Southern Campus placed #39 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. More on Ohio University Southern Campus
Roosevelt University offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. More on Roosevelt University
San Diego State University placed #41 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. More on San Diego State University
Stella And Charles Guttman Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Stella And Charles Guttman Community College report
Trinity University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Trinity University report
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #44 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Rutgers University New Brunswick
New York University placed #47 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Get the full New York University report
Harvard University placed #48 among the best-value Urban Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Harvard University report
Cuny City College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Cuny City College report
University Of Michigan Dearborn offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full University Of Michigan Dearborn report
Related Urban Studies Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Urban Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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