Urban Studiesat CUNY Queens College
Graduates earn $42,995/yr in their first year — about 5.0% above the national Urban Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $564K; scenarios range from $521K to $569K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at CUNY Queens College
Queens College's Urban Studies program uniquely benefits from its deep roots in New York City, arguably the ultimate urban laboratory. This setting provides an unparalleled context for understanding complex urban challenges and crafting solutions, directly influencing the career trajectories and earnings potential you'll see. The strong demand for professionals in urban planning, public policy, community development, and social services within NYC's vast ecosystem means graduates are often recruited into roles with city agencies, non-profits, and real estate development firms right in their backyard.
Your program's success is tied to this local relevance, fostering practical skills applicable to a dynamic regional labor market. To truly leverage this, focus heavily on internships and networking opportunities within NYC. While the data notes a high AI risk, you can mitigate this by emphasizing the distinctly human aspects of urban studies – community engagement, policy advocacy, and complex stakeholder negotiation – skills less susceptible to automation.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CUNY Queens College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Urban Studies
How CUNY Queens College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at CUNY Queens College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at CUNY Queens College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Urban Studies at CUNY Queens College
What does a 58/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Urban Studies at CUNY Queens College?
At 58/100, CUNY Queens College's Urban Studies program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Urban Studies at CUNY Queens College?
The 37% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is CUNY Queens College one of the best schools for Urban Studies?
Among 25 Urban Studies programs, CUNY Queens College's #4 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.