Urban Studies/Affairs at Wright State University-Main Campus

At $40,294 in first-year earnings, this urban studies program tracks right at the national median—but the story gets more interesting when you look at Ohio specifically. Similar programs across the state suggest lower starting salaries around $38,929, while estimated debt loads often reach $32,000. Wright State's estimated $23,000 in debt would actually position graduates better than typical Ohio peers, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 that's manageable even at mid-range salaries.

The caveat here matters: because this program has too few graduates to report actual outcomes, we're working with national benchmarks for earnings and Wright State's institutional patterns for debt. What we can say with confidence is that urban studies nationally produces fairly consistent outcomes—the gap between median and top programs is only about $6,000. The bigger variable is debt, where Ohio schools range widely and Wright State's lower tuition structure could genuinely provide an advantage.

For families evaluating this investment, the question isn't whether urban studies pays well—at $40,000 starting, it doesn't—but whether your student has specific career goals in urban planning, community development, or local government where this degree opens doors. If they're passionate about cities and civic work, the estimated numbers suggest Wright State won't saddle them with crushing debt. If they're uncertain about the field, comparable programs with similar outcomes cost less at community colleges or more at flagship universities with stronger alumni networks.