Urban Studies/Affairs at University of Connecticut

UConn's Urban Studies program sits in an unusual spot: it ranks in the 60th percentile within Connecticut but only the 25th percentile nationally, meaning it's competing with a notably weak in-state field. That $34,074 first-year salary trails the national program median by $6,200, and while debt levels are reasonable at $23,000, the initial earnings still put graduates behind peers at most other schools. The 62% earnings jump to $55,065 by year four offers hope, but you're looking at a graduate starting well below Connecticut's cost of living in their early career.

The limited sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could swing significantly with just a few data points. What we can say is that Urban Studies as a field generally produces modest early earnings, and this program doesn't outperform that trend despite UConn's solid reputation (average SAT of 1338). The real question is whether your student has a specific public sector or planning career path in mind that makes the slow earnings start worthwhile, or if they're exploring a general interest in cities and policy.

If urban planning or public administration is the goal, understand you're signing up for patient career building with a below-average start compared to national peers. If it's one option among several, programs with stronger initial earning power would give your graduate more financial flexibility while they figure out their direction.