Best colleges for City/Urban in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, University of California-Los Angeles and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo award the most City/Urban degrees and certificates in California: 63, 63 and 54 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 California colleges offer City/Urban and award 310 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning program focuses on the study of urban settlements and their development. It encompasses various disciplines, including geography, sociology, and urban design, to equip students with the…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,832 | 54 | 86% | — | $18,167 |
| 2 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,960 | 63 | 68% | — | $15,292 |
Colleges awarding the most City/Urban degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 63 | $45,960 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 63 | Not reported |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 54 | $47,832 |
| 4 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 50 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 6 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 7 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 9 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 4 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Urban and Regional Planners (SOC 19-3051).
Top skills
What Urban and Regional Planners earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing City/Urban programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most City/Urban degrees?+
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona (63 graduates a year), University of California-Los Angeles (63 graduates a year) and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (54 graduates a year) award the most City/Urban degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 California colleges offer City/Urban.
Which City/Urban program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $47,832. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Urban and Regional Planners earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Urban and Regional Planners in California is $116,480 (median $109,610), across about 7,460 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the City/Urban program?+
The City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning program focuses on the study of urban settlements and their development. It encompasses various disciplines, including geography, sociology, and urban design, to equip students with the…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Urban and Regional Planners?+
The national job outlook is about +3.4% growth with around 3,400 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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