Best colleges for City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning
A program that prepares individuals to apply principles of planning, analysis, and architecture to the development and improvement of urban areas and surrounding regions, and to function as professional planners.
113 U.S. institutions graduated 2,161 City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 04.0301, a specialization of City/Urban (CIP 04.03), and leads most directly to the Urban and Regional Planners occupation (BLS SOC 19-3051).
About City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply principles of planning, analysis, and architecture to the development and improvement of urban areas and surrounding regions, and to function as professional planners. Includes instruction in principles of architecture; master plan development; service, communications, and transportation systems design; community and commercial development; zoning; land use planning; applied economics; policy analysis; applicable laws and regulations; and professional responsibilities and managerial duties.
See also: 45.1201 - Urban Studies/Affairs.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning program prepares individuals to become professional planners who focus on the development and improvement of urban areas and surrounding regions. This program is ideal for those interested in applying principles of planning, analysis, and architecture to address community needs and enhance urban environments.
Learn more about City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning →
Students in this program will gain knowledge in areas such as land use planning, zoning, community development, and transportation systems design. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, equipping graduates to tackle complex urban challenges.
Credentials awarded
What City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree1,176 graduates / yr · 72 institutions54%
- Bachelor's degree713 graduates / yr · 38 institutions33%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate138 graduates / yr · 22 institutions6.4%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship86 graduates / yr · 22 institutions4.0%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year31 graduates / yr · 9 institutions1.4%
- Doctor's degree - other10 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
- Post-master's certificate3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3,435 |
| 2013 | 3,270 |
| 2014 | 3,219 |
| 2015 | 3,168 |
| 2016 | 3,097 |
| 2017 | 3,093 |
| 2018 | 2,669 |
| 2019 | 2,705 |
| 2020 | 2,528 |
| 2021 | 2,394 |
| 2022 | 2,171 |
| 2023 | 2,464 |
| 2024 | 2,341 |
| 2025 | 2,161 |
Top 50 institutions for City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 98 | 85% | — | $39,635 |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 90 | 96% | $11,666 | — |
| 3 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Master'sDoctoral | 87 | 84% | — | $50,580 |
| 4 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicBachelor's | 87 | 0% | — | $46,954 |
| 5 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 77 | 68% | — | $46,954 |
| 6 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 75 | 68% | — | $40,037 |
| 7 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 63 | 68% | — | $45,960 |
| 8 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 63 | 93% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Virginia Charlottesville, VAPublicPost-degree cert.Bachelor'sMaster's | 59 | 96% | — | — |
| 10 | Ohio State University Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 58 | 88% | — | $41,501 |
| 11 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 55 | 91% | — | — |
| 12 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 54 | 86% | — | $47,832 |
| 13 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 50 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 14 | Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 49 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 15 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 45 | 53% | — | — |
| 16 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 37 | 91% | — | — |
| 17 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 36 | 95% | $17,613 | $37,131 |
| 18 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 35 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 19 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 33 | 89% | — | — |
| 20 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 31 | 86% | — | — |
| 21 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicMaster's | 30 | 46% | — | — |
| 22 | Pratt Institute Brooklyn, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 30 | 74% | $49,088 | — |
| 23 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 29 | 63% | — | $22,719 |
| 24 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 28 | 87% | — | — |
| 25 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster's | 27 | 85% | — | — |
| 26 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras San Juan, PRPublicMaster's | 25 | 50% | — | — |
| 27 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor's | 24 | 61% | — | — |
| 28 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WIPublicMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 49% | — | $35,960 |
| 29 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OHPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsDoctoralAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 23 | 75% | — | $46,122 |
| 30 | Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GAPublicMaster's | 22 | 94% | — | — |
| 31 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 22 | 84% | — | — |
| 32 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MDPublicMaster's | 21 | 89% | — | — |
| 33 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 20 | 86% | — | — |
| 34 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 20 | 43% | — | — |
| 35 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 19 | 63% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 19 | 90% | — | — |
| 37 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 18 | 75% | — | $44,146 |
| 38 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicMaster's | 17 | 69% | — | — |
| 39 | Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, TXPublicMaster's | 17 | 43% | — | — |
| 40 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicBachelor's | 17 | 55% | — | $47,256 |
| 41 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 17 | 53% | — | — |
| 42 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 17 | 69% | — | — |
| 43 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TXPublicDoctoralMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 16 | 54% | — | — |
| 44 | Alabama A & M University Normal, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 15 | 24% | — | — |
| 45 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 15 | 62% | — | — |
| 46 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 15 | 69% | — | — |
| 47 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicMaster's | 15 | 58% | — | — |
| 48 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 14 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 49 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicMaster's | 13 | 57% | — | — |
| 50 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 12 | 95% | $22,242 | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader City/Urban field (CIP 04.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 41 states & territories
Where City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning graduates come from. Each state links to all City/Urban programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3051, Urban and Regional Planners, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers as Urban and Regional Planners, with an average growth outlook of 3.4% and approximately 3,400 annual job openings. The median wage for this occupation is $83,720, typically requiring a Master's degree for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 04.0301
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Urban and Regional Plannersprimary SOC 19-3051 | $89,320 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~3,400 | Master's degree |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC 11-9041 | $171,270 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~14,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other SOC 25-1069 | $72,990 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~1,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1031 | $96,870 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
- Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
- Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
- Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans.
- Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
- Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Doctor's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and active listening, among others.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an Urban and Regional Planner or in related fields like architectural management.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about average, with a growth rate of 3.4% and approximately 3,400 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning?+
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning is CIP 04.0301 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within City/Urban (CIP 04.03). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply principles of planning, analysis, and architecture to the development and improvement of urban areas and surrounding regions, and to function as professional planners. Includes instruction in principles of architecture; master plan development; service, communications, and transportation systems design; community and commercial development; zoning; land use planning; applied economics; policy analysis; applicable laws and regulations; and professional responsibilities and managerial duties.
How many institutions offer City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning programs?+
113 U.S. institutions reported City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 41 states & territories, awarding 2,161 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all City/Urban graduates.
How much do City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Urban and Regional Planners occupation, which City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning most directly leads to, pays a median of $89,320 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader City/Urban field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,146, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all City/Urban graduates, so its figures match the City/Urban program page.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card