[Urban & Regional Planning](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/urban-and-regional-planning/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong urban & regional planning education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 58 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for urban & regional planning students.
Finding the Best Value Urban & Regional Planning School for You
The right urban & regional planning school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Urban & Regional Planning Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Urban & Regional Planning Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
For return on investment in urban & regional planning, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $69,502. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge is a great value for students pursuing a degree in urban & regional planning, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $16,202. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $48,437 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in urban & regional planning will find it at California State University Fresno, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in urban & regional planning will find it at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Students borrow a median of $15,292 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $58,405. That is a strong return on a $15,292 median debt. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #5 place for urban & regional planning. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $69,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus landed the #6 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $67,972. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida placed #7 among the best values for urban & regional planning. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #8 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $65,697 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus placed #9 among the best values for urban & regional planning. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,168, while out-of-state students pay about $43,404. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $16,008 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus generally make around $67,566. Set against $16,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University earned the #10 position for value in urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Portland State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value urban & regional planning schools. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $26,475. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $57,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for urban & regional planning. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $59,475. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Florida State University landed the #13 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $59,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #14 for value in urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $17,736 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $53,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value urban & regional planning schools. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $27,653. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $22,719. That is a strong return on a $27,653 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #16 for value in urban & regional planning this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $26,582 in student loans. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $64,278 early in their careers. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine came in at #17 for value in urban & regional planning this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $16,539. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $66,092. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Wayne State University earned the #18 position for value in urban & regional planning this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $26,689. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $64,788. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Washington University came in at #19 for value in urban & regional planning this year. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,586, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Students borrow a median of $21,754 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $47,144. Set against $21,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras earned the #20 position for value in urban & regional planning this year. Set in the city of San Juan, University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,324. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $5,673. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $24,881. That is a strong return on a $5,673 median debt. University Of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras admits about 55% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio landed the #21 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $49,955. That is a strong return on a $23,312 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #22 for value in urban & regional planning this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $20,836. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Arizona State University landed the #23 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $27,009. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $52,150 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,009 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #24 among the best values for urban & regional planning. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $18,167 in student loans. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $47,832 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
Prairie View A And M University placed #25 among the best values for urban & regional planning. Prairie View A And M University is a large public school located in the rural area of Prairie View. In-state tuition and fees average $11,299, while out-of-state students pay about $26,874. Students borrow a median of $29,824 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Prairie View A And M University earn a median of $53,784 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s urban & regional planning value ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 58 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 58 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).
[Urban & Regional Planning](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/urban-and-regional-planning/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong urban & regional planning education at a price that pays off.
