Urban Studies / Affairs degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in urban studies / affairs earn a median $59,596 four years after finishing, across 30 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in miscellaneous social sciences earn $63,680, $1,631 more than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is market research analysts and marketing specialists (5%).
Median across 30 colleges; middle half $57,342–$71,380.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $43,028–$91,304. 210 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Miscellaneous Social Sciences"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$28,042/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs urban studies / affairs graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in miscellaneous social sciences actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Research Analysts And Marketing Specialists | 5% | $78,760 | +7.0% | Bachelor's degree | ECI |
| Social Workers, All Other | 4% | $71,900 | +2.3% | Bachelor's degree | — |
| Other Mathematical Science Occupations | 4% | — | — | — | — |
| Customer Service Representatives | 3% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Other Managers | 3% | — | — | — | — |
| Healthcare Social Workers | 3% | $67,880 | +8.5% | Master's degree | SI |
| Construction Managers | 3% | $114,990 | +9.1% | Bachelor's degree | ECR |
| Management Analysts | 3% | $101,860 | +10.1% | Bachelor's degree | CIE |
These 8 jobs account for 28% of employed graduates: people with this degree spread across many kinds of work.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Urban Studies / Affairs earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| California | $71,380 (5) | — |
| Connecticut | $57,342 (5) | — |
| New York | $74,979 (5) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where urban studies / affairs graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 0 in Florida, 1 in Virginia, 11 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-BerkeleyCA | $76,125 | $14,444 |
| 2 | California State University-NorthridgeCA | $72,148 | $13,612 |
| 3 | University of California-San DiegoCA | $71,380 | $17,500 |
| 4 | San Francisco State UniversityCA | $70,207 | $18,600 |
| 5 | University of California-IrvineCA | $63,819 | $15,000 |
| 6 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVA | $58,084 | $26,416 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Urban Studies / Affairs degree questions
How much do Urban Studies / Affairs graduates make?
Urban Studies / Affairs graduates earn a median $59,596 four years after finishing, across 30 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $57,342 to $71,380; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in miscellaneous social sciences, the median is $63,680 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Urban Studies / Affairs degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in miscellaneous social sciences earn a median $63,680: $1,631 more than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $28,042 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Urban Studies / Affairs graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in miscellaneous social sciences, the most common jobs are market research analysts and marketing specialists (5%), social workers, all other (4%), other mathematical science occupations (4%). Market Research Analysts And Marketing Specialists earn a U.S. median $78,760.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
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Cite this: “Urban Studies / Affairs degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/urban-studies-affairs.