Urban (City) Colleges: Costs & Outcomes (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Urban (City): median public in-state tuition $15,200 (+175.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $57,648 (+6.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 86.6% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $14,000 (+5.5% vs U.S.) 4,168,431 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 1,346 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 4,168,431 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $15,200 (+175.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $57,648 (+6.0% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 86.6% (-1.4 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $20,053 (+101.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $14,000 (+5.5% vs U.S. $13,271). Debt rank: #1 nationally of 50 (lower debt = better rank)
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 54.7%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 77.7%
- Student debt rank: #1 nationally of 50 (lower debt = better rank)
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
Colleges classified as Urban (City) sit in NCES City — principal city of a metropolitan or micropolitan area. 1,346 reporting campuses in this profile, with about 4,168,431 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $15,200. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and top urban campuses against U.S. medians and other campus settings from the College Scorecard.
Urban (City) vs national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban (City) | $15,200 | $20,053 | $14,000 | 54.7% | 4,168,431 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Urban (City) vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban (City) | $57,648 | 86.6% | 77.7% | 4.6% | — | 70.8% | 0.37 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Campus settings compared
Other NCES campus-setting groups (urban, suburban, town, rural).
| Setting | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban (City) | $15,200 | $20,053 | $14,000 | 54.7% | 4,168,431 | $57,648 | 86.6% |
| Town | $9,600 | $14,971 | $15,000 | 52.2% | 3,644,971 | $52,248 | 89.6% |
| Rural | $14,160 | $18,700 | $12,000 | 54.0% | 3,610,516 | $58,295 | 86.4% |
| Suburban | $13,135 | $18,048 | $13,938 | 51.7% | 2,375,539 | $55,043 | 88.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Outcomes by sector in Urban (City)
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private for-profit | 41 | $42,229 | 79.2% | 60.9% | 9.5% | — | 45.3% |
| Private nonprofit | 259 | $58,218 | 86.0% | 78.6% | 4.0% | — | 73.5% |
| Public | 114 | $57,960 | 89.2% | 77.9% | 5.4% | — | 70.4% |
Top 10 colleges in Urban (City) by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 96.8%, Duke University
Duke University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 96.5%, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
-
Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 96.1%, Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 95.9%, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 94.8%, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 6, Graduation Rate, 94.6%, Rice University
Rice University
-
Rank 7, Graduation Rate, 94.1%, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
-
Rank 8, Graduation Rate, 94.0%, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
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Rank 9, Graduation Rate, 93.8%, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
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Rank 10, Graduation Rate, 93.5%, Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Top 10 colleges in Urban (City) by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 96.8%, University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 96.5%, Clarkson College
Clarkson College
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 96.0%, Bryan College of Health Sciences
Bryan College of Health Sciences
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 95.8%, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee School of Engineering
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 95.6%, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wisconsin Lutheran College
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 95.6%, Rockhurst University
Rockhurst University
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 95.5%, Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 95.3%, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 95.3%, University of St Thomas
University of St Thomas
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 95.1%, Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Top 10 most selective colleges in Urban (City) (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 3.0%, Minerva University
Minerva University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 4.0%, Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 4.5%, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 5.2%, Northeastern University
Northeastern University
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 5.4%, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
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Rank 6, Admission Rate, 5.7%, Duke University
Duke University
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Rank 7, Admission Rate, 5.9%, Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
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Rank 8, Admission Rate, 6.4%, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
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Rank 9, Admission Rate, 8.0%, Rice University
Rice University
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Rank 10, Admission Rate, 8.8%, Barnard College
Barnard College
Top 10 colleges in Urban (City) by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $171,264, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $146,204, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
-
Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $141,588, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $137,284, University of Southern California
University of Southern California
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $136,099, University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-Los Angeles
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Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $133,356, Duke University
Duke University
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Rank 7, Entry-Level Earnings, $131,154, Rice University
Rice University
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Rank 8, Entry-Level Earnings, $129,269, Wagner College
Wagner College
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Rank 9, Entry-Level Earnings, $122,244, Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
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Rank 10, Entry-Level Earnings, $119,486, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
Top 10 colleges in Urban (City) by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $297,029, Duke University
Duke University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $268,121, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $241,380, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
-
Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $228,705, University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-Los Angeles
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $196,467, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
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Rank 6, Early-Career Earnings, $194,365, Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York
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Rank 7, Early-Career Earnings, $192,897, University of Southern California
University of Southern California
-
Rank 8, Early-Career Earnings, $182,443, Rice University
Rice University
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Rank 9, Early-Career Earnings, $178,068, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 10, Early-Career Earnings, $175,616, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Top 10 colleges in Urban (City) by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $143,353, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $105,360, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $99,818, Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $96,993, Roseman University of Health Sciences
Roseman University of Health Sciences
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $96,114, West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County
West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $96,114, West Coast University-Texas
West Coast University-Texas
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $90,555, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
-
Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $89,432, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $88,535, Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $86,306, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Top 10 colleges in Urban (City) by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $147,923, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $108,480, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $105,524, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $103,740, Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $102,981, Roseman University of Health Sciences
Roseman University of Health Sciences
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $100,118, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $98,435, Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $98,146, West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County
West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $98,146, West Coast University-Texas
West Coast University-Texas
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $95,882, Duke University
Duke University
Top 10 colleges in Urban (City) by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $143,238, Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $125,557, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $120,163, Roseman University of Health Sciences
Roseman University of Health Sciences
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $114,862, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $111,371, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $103,494, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $102,772, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $102,672, West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County
West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $102,672, West Coast University-Texas
West Coast University-Texas
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $102,491, Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York
Top 10 colleges in Urban (City) by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $482,012, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $417,020, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $381,661, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $375,459, Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $359,630, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $359,160, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $355,394, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $344,734, Rice University
Rice University
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $338,065, Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $332,190, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Urban (City) (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $672, College of Biblical Studies-Houston
College of Biblical Studies-Houston
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Rank 2, Net Price, $2,840, Talmudical Seminary of Bobov
Talmudical Seminary of Bobov
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Rank 3, Net Price, $3,637, Texas A & M International University
Texas A & M International University
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Rank 4, Net Price, $4,844, Rabbinical Seminary of America
Rabbinical Seminary of America
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Rank 5, Net Price, $4,876, Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary
Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary
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Rank 6, Net Price, $3,967, California State University-Los Angeles
California State University-Los Angeles
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Rank 7, Net Price, $5,652, California State University-Bakersfield
California State University-Bakersfield
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Rank 8, Net Price, $2,984, CUNY Hunter College
CUNY Hunter College
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Rank 9, Net Price, $3,103, CUNY Brooklyn College
CUNY Brooklyn College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $3,033, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Top 10 colleges in Urban (City) by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 100.0%, Cambridge College
Cambridge College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 100.0%, Strayer University-Tennessee
Strayer University-Tennessee
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 100.0%, West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County
West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange County
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 100.0%, West Coast University-Texas
West Coast University-Texas
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 99.3%, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 6, First-Year Retention, 98.9%, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
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Rank 7, First-Year Retention, 98.1%, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
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Rank 8, First-Year Retention, 98.1%, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
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Rank 9, First-Year Retention, 98.0%, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
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Rank 10, First-Year Retention, 98.0%, Columbia University in the City of New York
Columbia University in the City of New York
In-state tuition: Urban (City) vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Urban (City) median in-state tuition is $15,200, +175.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Urban (City) vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Urban (City) is $14,000 (+5.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Rank: #1 nationally of 50 (lower debt = better rank).
Median earnings (10 years out): Urban (City) vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Urban (City) center around $57,648 (+6.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Urban (City) vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 86.6% at the median Urban (City) campus (-1.4 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Urban (City) median public in-state tuition is $15,200, about +175.8% vs the national median.
Median graduate debt is $14,000 (+5.5% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #1 nationally of 50 (lower debt = better rank) (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Urban (City) are $57,648, about +6.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 86.6% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-1.4 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 77.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 70.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Nebraska Medical Center (96.8%), Clarkson College (96.5%), Bryan College of Health Sciences (96.0%), Milwaukee School of Engineering (95.8%), Wisconsin Lutheran College (95.6%), Rockhurst University (95.6%), Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health (95.5%), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (95.3%), University of St Thomas (95.3%), Mount Carmel College of Nursing (95.1%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Urban (City), sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $42,229 (41 campuses); Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $58,218 (259 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $57,960 (114 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Urban (City) is 54.7% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many urban campuses are in the U.S.?
This profile covers 1,346 campuses classified as Urban (City) in the College Scorecard extract, with about 4,168,431 total reported enrollment.
How much does college cost at urban campuses?
Median in-state tuition among urban campuses is $15,200 and median net price is $20,053. U.S. medians are $5,512 (tuition) and $9,969 (net price). Urban (City) tuition is +175.8% vs the national median.
What do graduates earn from urban campuses?
Median 10-year earnings for urban campuses is $57,648 vs $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like at urban campuses?
Median completer debt at urban campuses is $14,000 vs $13,271 nationally (+5.5% vs U.S.).
What NCES locale codes are included in Urban (City)?
NCES City — principal city of a metropolitan or micropolitan area. College Scorecard locale codes in this bucket: 11.
What are the top colleges at urban campuses?
Top campuses on this page include Duke University (graduation) and Samuel Merritt University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
How do urban campuses compare to other campus settings?
Peer setting profiles include Town, Rural, Suburban. See the campus-settings comparison table for tuition, debt, and earnings medians.
Sources & related
- All college profiles
- All campus-setting profiles
- Average cost by campus setting
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON