2026 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning, General Schools in the Far Western Region

[Urban & Regional Planning, General](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/urban-and-regional-planning/general-urban-and-regional-planning/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for urban & regional planning, general students.
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2026 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning, General Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in urban & regional planning, general, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Urban & Regional Planning, General Schools
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #1 spot for value among urban & regional planning, general schools in the Far Western Region. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,781, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $15,292 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $58,405. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Irvine earned it the #2 place for urban & regional planning, general. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $16,539. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $66,092 early in their careers. Set against $16,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Portland State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value urban & regional planning, general schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $26,475. Early-career urban & regional planning, general graduates make about $57,357. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for urban & regional planning, general. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. 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 $53,601 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Jose State University earned it the #5 place for urban & regional planning, general. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #6 for value in urban & regional planning, general this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $69,357 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hawaii At Manoa ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value urban & regional planning, general schools. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, while out-of-state students pay about $34,218. Students borrow a median of $20,577 to complete the urban & regional planning, general program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $55,556. Set against $20,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #8 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. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $18,167. Early-career urban & regional planning, general graduates make about $47,832. Set against $18,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
San Diego State University earned the #9 position for value in urban & regional planning, general this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $51,162 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.
University Of Oregon landed the #10 spot for urban & regional planning, general value this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,320, with out-of-state students paying around $42,516. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $22,034 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from University Of Oregon generally make around $53,962. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California earned the #11 position for value in urban & regional planning, general this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning, general graduates is $15,625. Early-career urban & regional planning, general graduates make about $63,583. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.