Program Analysis
Graduates earn $40,294/yr, roughly in line with the $40,998 national median for Urban Studies/Affairs. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
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 12% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $40,294 far exceeding the $19,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #16 of 25 Urban Studies/Affairs programs, Barnard College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $75,859 show a 88% jump from the $40,294 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.