Compare 17 City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $55,021. Top programs: $71,455+.
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs produce graduates earning between $33,993 and $71,455—a $37K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 17 ranked programs, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's planning program leads with graduates earning $71,455, followed closely by USC at $71,104. The average across all programs is $55,021, showing how selective publics like Cal Poly compete directly with prestigious private institutions while delivering superior value.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. USC graduates borrow $18,000 and face just a 5.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Cal Poly achieves similar results at 5.2% burden, proving that top planning programs can deliver both strong outcomes and manageable debt loads.
Highest program earnings: $71,455
Strong outcomes ($64,631) with 86% acceptance
5.1% payment burden | Excellent
10.8% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $71,455 | 18 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $71,104 | 6 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Manageable | |
| #3 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $64,631 | 79 | $19,620 | Excellent | $30,126 | Manageable |
| #4 | $64,621 | 42 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Good | |
| #5 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $59,624 | 26 | $22,869 | Good | $25,950 | Challenging |
| #6 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $58,532 | 35 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Challenging |
| #7 | $55,451 | 24 | $17,236 | Excellent | $15,000 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $55,338 | 11 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $55,046 | 54 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $53,666 | 46 | $19,976 | Good | $25,868 | Challenging | |
| #11 | $53,582 | 30 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Challenging | |
| #12 | $52,445 | 80 | $19,500 | Good | $23,519 | Challenging | |
| #13 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $50,917 | 22 | $21,000 | Good | $22,500 | Challenging |
| #14 | $48,103 | 13 | $22,457 | Manageable | $18,544 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $46,122 | 21 | $21,250 | Manageable | $23,602 | High | |
| #16 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $40,721 | 25 | $23,000 | Manageable | $34,512 | High |
| #17 | $33,993 | 10 | $19,500 | Challenging | $17,148 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
