Urban Studies/Affairs at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

At $36,099, first-year earnings from this program match the Pennsylvania median for Urban Studies degrees but trail the national benchmark by roughly $4,000. This positions Pitt's graduates at the 33rd percentile nationally—below average compared to peer programs across the country. The estimated $23,000 in debt (based on similar programs at Pitt) translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64, meaning graduates would owe about eight months of their first-year salary. That's reasonable by bachelor's degree standards, though Urban Studies as a field generally produces modest early earnings regardless of where you study.

The real question is trajectory. Urban planning and policy careers often require graduate credentials for advancement, and these first-year numbers reflect entry-level positions in nonprofits, local government, or community development—sectors not known for competitive starting salaries. If your child plans to stop at a bachelor's, they'll likely need to supplement this degree with internships or technical skills to improve their market position. If graduate school is part of the plan, they'll be adding more debt to already modest earnings.

Given the estimation uncertainty and below-average national performance, treat this as a program where passion for the field matters more than financial optimization. The debt load won't be crushing, but the earnings ceiling appears low compared to other majors at a selective research university.