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An urban university is an institution of higher learning that is socially involved and serves as a resource for educating the citizens of the city in which it is located. That is, the urban university must be “of” the city as well as “in” the city.

An urban university operates with a closely meshed and intertwined mission, milieu, and environment. An operational definition of the urban university would incorporate both its setting and the clientele it serves. Specific criteria applying to such institutions in the United States include:

1. Location in a socially and economically diverse city with a population of 250,000 or more.
2. Enrollment of a significant number (20% or more) of part-time students.
3. Inclusion of graduate and professional schools, some of which grant a terminal degree.

More than six dozen universities in the United States would qualify as urban universities under these criteria. New York University, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania and Wayne State University are examples of top urban universities.

Historically in the world, tradition makes universities be associated with great cities, beginning with the University of Paris, founded circa 1200 C.E. The tradition continues with the European universities at Leiden, Geneva, and Edinburgh. These institutions are both civic and municipal. A direct line runs from these universities to contemporary urban institutions such as University of London and New York University. The English-speaking world, however, constitutes an exception, where most universities and their campuses are located in rural areas or small towns.