Compare 18 City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $60,987. Top programs: $80,820+.
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs produce graduates earning between $32K and $81K—a $49K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 18 ranked programs, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation. The average sits at $61K, but where you land depends heavily on which program you choose.
Topping the list, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's planning program delivers $81K in median graduate earnings—well above the $61K field average. Close behind, University of Arizona graduates earn $76K from a program that admits 86% of applicants. These accessible public universities outperform programs at schools with far more selective admissions, reinforcing that prestige and outcomes aren't the same thing.
Debt burden matters as much as earnings. University of Washington-Seattle graduates borrow $14,615 and face just a 3.9% student payment burden—an 'Excellent' GPS affordability rating meaning loan payments are trivial relative to income. For families weighing parent loans too, Cal Poly Pomona leads with a 9.1% combined burden, earning a 'Good' family affordability rating on $31K in total family debt. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $80,820
Strong outcomes ($76,360) with 86% acceptance
3.9% payment burden | Excellent
9.1% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $80,820 | 36 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #2 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $76,360 | 50 | $19,620 | Excellent | $30,126 | Manageable |
| #3 | $73,413 | 22 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Good | |
| #4 | $72,704 | 37 | $16,000 | Excellent | $15,000 | Good | |
| #5 | $70,592 | 28 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $68,786 | 13 | $21,500 | Excellent | $25,294 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $68,163 | 61 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $66,093 | 16 | $17,236 | Excellent | $15,000 | Good | |
| #9 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $61,173 | 29 | $22,869 | Good | $25,950 | Challenging |
| #10 | $60,699 | 16 | $21,250 | Excellent | $23,602 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $59,524 | 14 | $22,457 | Good | $18,544 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $57,573 | 45 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Challenging | |
| #13 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $55,663 | 9 | $23,250 | Good | $20,800 | Challenging |
| #14 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $55,625 | 14 | $21,000 | Good | $22,500 | Challenging |
| #15 | $55,338 | 14 | — | — | — | — | |
| #16 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $42,682 | 15 | — | — | — | — |
| #17 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $40,721 | 16 | — | — | — | — |
| #18 | $31,839 | 7 | — | — | — | — |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
