Best Schools for Urban & Regional Planning in the United States
Below are the best urban & regional planning schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Urban & Regional Planning
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in urban & regional planning. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 70 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $81,382. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best urban & regional planning schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 35 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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New York University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 55 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $71,369 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for urban & regional planning. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 81 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $69,357 early in their careers. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for urban & regional planning. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from University Of Southern California earn around $63,583 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #6 spot for urban & regional planning this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 69 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $67,566 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $17,736 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #7 among the best urban & regional planning schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 33 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $61,042 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best urban & regional planning schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 58 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $72,127 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine came in at #9 for urban & regional planning this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $66,092 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,539 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #10 position for urban & regional planning this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 38 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $67,972 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #11 for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn around $70,849 in the first couple years of their career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $15,292 in student loans.
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University Of Georgia earned the #12 position for urban & regional planning this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
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San Diego State University came in at #13 for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 12 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $51,162 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,417.
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The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #14 position for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 30 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $64,191 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
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George Washington University came in at #15 for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. George Washington University awarded about 11 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $73,749 in their early career. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
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University Of Florida placed #16 among the best urban & regional planning schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 41 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $69,502 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #17 for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $49,755. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station landed the #18 spot for urban & regional planning this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 18 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $50,580 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Florida earned the #19 position for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their urban & regional planning degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $51,790 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #20 spot for urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 44 urban & regional planning degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $65,697 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete this degree.
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Boston University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best urban & regional planning schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 19 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the urban & regional planning program make about $60,806 in their early career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #22 position for urban & regional planning this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $63,944. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #23 spot for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 27 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $58,018 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
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Suny At Albany came in at #24 for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 10 urban & regional planning degrees were awarded at Suny At Albany in the most recent year. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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Georgetown University came in at #25 for urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 28 urban & regional planning students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $63,579. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
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Rest of the Top 48 Urban & Regional Planning Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong urban & regional planning education:
Other Urban & Regional Planning Degree Levels
Explore the best urban & regional planning schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 146 schools evaluated.
- 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.