Compare 7 City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning. programs in the West. Average earnings: $58,833.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning tells a different story. Across 7 programs, earnings range from $33,993 to $71,455—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's planning program leads with graduates earning $71,455, while the average across all programs is $58,833. University of Southern California follows closely at $71,104, proving that outcomes depend on program strength rather than institutional prestige alone.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Southern California graduates borrow $18,000 and face just a 5.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income.
Highest program earnings: $71,455
Strong outcomes 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 | $53,582 | 30 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $52,445 | 80 | $19,500 | Good | $23,519 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $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 →
