Urban Studies/Affairs at Barnard College

Barnard's urban studies program sits at the median nationally but performs better within New York—hitting the 60th percentile among state programs. That's a meaningful distinction for a highly selective school charging premium tuition, though the small sample size (fewer than 30 graduates) means these figures could swing significantly year to year. The $40,294 starting salary barely edges out CUNY Queens, which costs a fraction of the price, and you're looking at $19,000 in debt despite Barnard's strong financial aid reputation.

The promising element here is the earnings trajectory: graduates see 54% income growth by year four, reaching $62,064. That suggests the program opens doors that take time to materialize—typical for urban planning and policy careers where entry-level positions give way to better opportunities. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 is reasonable, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, which should be manageable for most.

If your child is passionate about urban policy and wants the prestige and network of a highly selective women's college in New York City, this could work—especially if aid brings costs down further. But the small sample makes this a risky data point to rely on heavily, and families paying close to sticker price should think hard about whether the outcomes justify the investment when compared to more affordable state options.