2026 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning, General Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Urban & Regional Planning, General](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/urban-and-regional-planning/general-urban-and-regional-planning/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 146 schools to find the best return on investment for urban & regional planning, general students.
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2026 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning, General Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the urban & regional planning, general degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Urban & Regional Planning, General Schools
Leading the list is California State Polytechnic University Pomona, our #1 best value for urban & regional planning, general in the United States. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,292 to complete the urban & regional planning, general program here. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $45,960 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,292 median debt. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for urban & regional planning, general. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $17,736. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $39,635 early in their careers. Set against $17,736 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in urban & regional planning, general will find it at University Of Missouri Kansas City, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $23,741. Early-career urban & regional planning, general graduates make about $60,324. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Florida Atlantic University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, general, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $27,653. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $22,719 early in their careers. Set against $27,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of North Texas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, general, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $21,817. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $49,157 early in their careers. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Arizona State University earned the #6 position for value in urban & regional planning, general this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $27,009. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $46,954 early in their careers. Set against $27,009 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #7 position for value in urban & regional planning, general this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $18,167. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $47,832. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value urban & regional planning, general schools. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the urban & regional planning, general program here. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $40,037 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University placed #9 among the best values for urban & regional planning, general. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $24,518 in student loans. Early-career urban & regional planning, general graduates make about $47,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #10 among the best values for urban & regional planning, general. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $47,256. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Iowa State University came in at #11 for value in urban & regional planning, general this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $44,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #12 for value in urban & regional planning, general this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Early-career urban & regional planning, general graduates make about $41,501. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #13 spot for urban & regional planning, general value this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $50,580. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value urban & regional planning, general schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $58,018. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value urban & regional planning, general schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $25,464 in student loans. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $46,122 early in their careers. Set against $25,464 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #16 among the best values for urban & regional planning, general. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete the urban & regional planning, general program here. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $58,402 early in their careers. Set against $25,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Temple University came in at #17 for value in urban & regional planning, general this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the urban & regional planning, general program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $54,642. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Cornell University earned the #18 position for value in urban & regional planning, general this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $14,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $37,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Other Urban & Regional Planning, General Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Urban & Regional Planning, General rankings across degree levels:
View All Urban & Regional Planning, General Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 146 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.