Best colleges for City/Urban in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Columbia University, Cornell University and New York University award the most City/Urban degrees and certificates in New York: 49, 36 and 35 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 New York colleges offer City/Urban and award 173 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 institution, 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 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,131 | 36 | 95% | $17,613 | $14,275 |
Colleges awarding the most City/Urban degrees in New York
Top 7 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 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 49 | Not reported |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 36 | $37,131 |
| 3 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 35 | Not reported |
| 4 | Pratt Institute Brooklyn Private not-for-profit | 30 | Not reported |
| 5 | University at Albany Albany Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 6 | The New School New York Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 7 | University at Buffalo Buffalo 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 New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing City/Urban programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most City/Urban degrees?+
Columbia University (49 graduates a year), Cornell University (36 graduates a year) and New York University (35 graduates a year) award the most City/Urban degrees and certificates in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 New York colleges offer City/Urban.
Which City/Urban program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Cornell University tops the list at $37,131. 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 New York?+
The average annual wage for Urban and Regional Planners in New York is $98,560 (median $89,630), across about 2,420 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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