The  Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs was established at Cleveland  State University in 1977, as successor to its Institute of Urban Studies (created in 1969). Today, the Levin College is home to five growing  undergraduate degree programs, two nationally accredited and ranked Masters  Degree programs in Urban Planning and Public Administration, growing graduate  programs in Nonprofit Management and Environmental Studies, and an  interdisciplinary doctoral program.

It  comprises:

• The  Department of Urban Studies – the academic home for  students interested in  leadership roles in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, as well as the  home for leadership training and faculty who generate new knowledge that often  helps shape urban policy.
• Research Centers and Outreach and Training Programs that provide engaged research focused on urban policy and the  provision of client-responsive technical assistance, evaluation, or other forms  of research.

Nationally, the College is ranked among the top schools of urban affairs. It has been ranked second in the area of city management and urban policy since 1998 in U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools”.   Our graduate specialization in Nonprofit Management was ranked 12th in the nation in the 2013 ratings and is the only ranked program in Ohio.  And our Master in Public Administration degree is ranked in the top-quarter of all graduate public affairs degrees in the nation. Administration, faculty, and staff make every effort to ensure that the College maintains and elevates its high national ranking.

Mission

The Levin College of Urban Affairs at  Cleveland State University is a nationally recognized institution dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and  service, actively engaged in improving opportunities for the citizens of the  Greater Cleveland region and the state of Ohio.

Vision

The  Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University is a nationally  recognized home of thought leaders in the area of urban policy and public  management who transfer and extend that knowledge through teaching, research,  and service.

Core  Values

The  Levin College community- faculty, staff, and students- values creating and  transmitting knowledge, intellectual freedom and debate, collaboration, and  engagement.Our community values diversity in all of its forms- demographic,  disciplinary, and methodological- because diverse perspectives lead to knowledge  creation and meaningful debate.

Promises

The  faculty and staff of the Levin College of Urban Affairs make two promises:

• The Levin College will develop and support thought leaders in the areas of urban policy and public       management.
• The Levin College will prepare students to change America’s cities.