Urban Studies/Affairs: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 31 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$104,879 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
17.2 yrsModeled economic break-even
−42%Modeled 10-year ROI
$59,596Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$59,596Median reported earnings · year 4
$63,902Average reported earnings · year 5
$21,775Median federal debt
44thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
31Reporting programs
30With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,051
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,596
- Federal debt
- $21,775
- Reporting programs
- 31
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $83,598
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$57,342National median$59,59675th percentile$70,207
30 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
31 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1New York UniversityNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$81,123Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$37,0502Barnard CollegeNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$79,807Federal debt$19,000Annual net price$28,8003University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$76,125Federal debt$14,444Annual net price$13,4814CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$74,979Federal debt$12,201Annual net price$4,1955Brown UniversityProvidence, RI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$73,905Federal debt$14,000Annual net price$25,1846University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$73,190Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$28,6997California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$72,148Federal debt$13,612Annual net price$7,0218University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$71,380Federal debt$17,500Annual net price$12,4709San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$70,207Federal debt$18,600Annual net price$12,27810University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · PublicYear-4 earnings$68,928Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$16,20011University of California, IrvineIrvine, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$63,819Federal debt$15,000Annual net price$14,25112University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · PublicYear-4 earnings$63,174Federal debt$18,965Annual net price$14,09113University of Washington-Tacoma CampusTacoma, WA · PublicYear-4 earnings$63,174Federal debt$18,965Annual net price$10,16314University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN · PublicYear-4 earnings$62,807Federal debt$20,550Annual net price$16,77815Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$59,930Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$39,34316Rutgers University-CamdenCamden, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,261Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$18,74517Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,261Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$24,40618Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,915Federal debt$25,205Annual net price$12,76619Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,084Federal debt$26,416Annual net price$23,43320University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,010Federal debt$30,500Annual net price$10,35921University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,342Federal debt$23,000Annual net price$25,09722University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusWaterbury, CT · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,342Federal debt$23,000Annual net price$10,87523University of Connecticut-Avery PointGroton, CT · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,342Federal debt$23,000Annual net price$13,80724University of Connecticut-StamfordStamford, CT · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,342Federal debt$23,000Annual net price$16,79825University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusHartford, CT · PublicYear-4 earnings$57,342Federal debt$23,000Annual net price$16,403
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1New York University$81,1232Barnard College$79,8073University of California, Berkeley$76,1254CUNY Queens College$74,9795Brown University$73,9056University of Pennsylvania$73,1907California State University, Northridge$72,1488University of California, San Diego$71,3809San Francisco State University$70,20710University of Utah$68,928Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All OtherSOC 25-1069 · 1 crosswalk linksSociologistsSOC 19-3041 · 1 crosswalk linksUrban and Regional PlannersSOC 19-3051 · 1 crosswalk links
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $81,123 | Not available | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Barnard CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $79,807 | $19,000 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $76,125 | $14,444 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | CUNY Queens CollegeBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $74,979 | $12,201 | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $73,905 | $14,000 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $73,190 | Not available | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $72,148 | $13,612 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $71,380 | $17,500 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $70,207 | $18,600 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $68,928 | Not available | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $63,819 | $15,000 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $63,174 | $18,965 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $63,174 | $18,965 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $62,807 | $20,550 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Vassar CollegeBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $59,930 | Not available | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $59,261 | $27,000 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $59,261 | $27,000 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Wayne State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $58,915 | $25,205 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $58,084 | $26,416 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $58,010 | $30,500 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $57,342 | $23,000 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $57,342 | $23,000 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $57,342 | $23,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $57,342 | $23,000 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $57,342 | $23,000 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University at AlbanyBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | $57,150 | Not available | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Cleveland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cleveland, OH | $53,582 | $32,083 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,378 | Not available | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $50,202 | $19,916 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Worcester State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $48,387 | Not available | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | Not available | $36,850 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $9,552 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.