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Urban Studies/Affairs at Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,870/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (37% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (111,900 openings/yr)
ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #12 of 25 Urban Studies/Affairs programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Urban Studies/Affairs graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $509K $507K $476K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.3x 11.3x 10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.2x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 48% 44% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (4.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,728
-15% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,870/yr, edging above the $40,998 national average for Urban Studies/Affairs — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Urban Studies/Affairs programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Urban Studies/Affairs's typical career paths, with 37% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $45,870 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #12 of 25 Urban Studies/Affairs programs, Portland State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Portland State University

Portland State University has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 13,619 in Portland, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Portland State University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Sociologists $101,690/yr
Urban and regional planners $83,720/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 25 schools offering Urban Studies/Affairs →

Urban Studies/Affairs at Other Schools

University of California-Berkeley ($58,171) San Francisco State University ($50,008) Brown University ($48,731) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($47,585) University of Washington-Tacoma Campus ($47,585) California State University-Northridge ($46,826) University of Nevada-Las Vegas ($46,712) Rutgers University-Camden ($44,263)

Other Majors at Portland State University

Computer Engineering ($87,259) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,853) Computer Science ($78,669) Mechanical Engineering ($73,079) Civil Engineering ($67,509) Physics ($62,749) Accounting and Related Services ($58,069) Finance and Financial Management Services ($52,859)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Urban Studies/Affairs at Portland State University?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Urban Studies/Affairs. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Urban Studies/Affairs careers?
With 37% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $475,516 in decade earnings vs $508,573 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →