2026 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning, General Schools in California
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 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 California
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
For return on investment in urban & regional planning, general, no school beat California State Polytechnic University Pomona this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, 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. Early-career urban & regional planning, general graduates make about $58,405. Set against $15,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values 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, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, general, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in urban & regional planning, general will find it at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #4. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $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. The acceptance rate is 9%.
A rank of #5 makes California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo one of the best values for urban & regional planning, general. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,167 to complete the urban & regional planning, general program here. Early-career urban & regional planning, general graduates make about $47,832. Set against $18,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.
San Diego State University landed the #6 spot for urban & regional planning, general value this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career urban & regional planning, general graduates make about $51,162. Set against $16,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
University Of Southern California placed #7 among the best values for urban & regional planning, general. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Urban & Regional Planning, General graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning, general degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $63,583. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 10%.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
