Urban Studies/Affairs at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers-New Brunswick's Urban Studies graduates start at $44,263—above the national median of $40,294 and matching the state median for this field. More importantly, earnings climb 20% to over $53,000 by year four, suggesting this degree opens doors to career progression rather than dead-end positions. The debt load of $27,000 translates to a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than eight months of their first-year salary.

However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing significantly in either direction. With only four New Jersey schools offering this program, you're working with limited comparison points. The ranking at the 60th percentile statewide doesn't mean much when the competition is so narrow.

What matters more: Rutgers is a respected flagship university with an admission rate suggesting reasonable selectivity, and Urban Studies graduates are finding work that pays above national norms for the field. For a student genuinely interested in urban planning, policy, or community development, this represents a solid mid-tier outcome—not spectacular, but far from problematic. Just recognize you're evaluating a niche program where individual career choices will matter more than these aggregate numbers suggest.