2026 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Urban & Regional Planning](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/urban-and-regional-planning/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 146 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for urban & regional planning students.
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2026 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the urban & regional planning degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Urban & Regional Planning Schools
California State Polytechnic University Pomona tops our 2026 list of the best value urban & regional planning schools in the United States. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $15,292. Urban & Regional Planning 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. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $17,736 in student loans. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $39,635 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,736 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in urban & regional planning will find it at University Of Missouri Kansas City, which ranked #3. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for urban & regional planning. 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. Students borrow a median of $27,653 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $22,719 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Texas one of the best values for urban & regional planning. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $21,817. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $49,157. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Arizona State University landed the #6 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $27,009 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $46,954. 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 earned the #7 position for value in urban & regional planning this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. 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 graduates is $18,167. Early-career urban & regional planning 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.
University Of Arizona landed the #8 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $40,037 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University landed the #9 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $47,863. Set against $24,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value urban & regional planning schools. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $47,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Iowa State University placed #11 among the best values for urban & regional planning. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $44,146 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $25,250. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,501 early in their careers. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #13 for value in urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $21,000. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $50,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in urban & regional planning this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $58,018. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #15 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $25,464. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $46,122 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,464 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #16 for value in urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $25,120. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $58,402. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Temple University landed the #17 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $26,259. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $54,642. Set against $26,259 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Cornell University landed the #18 spot for urban & regional planning value this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Students borrow a median of $14,275 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $37,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Other Urban & Regional Planning Degree Levels
Explore the best-value urban & regional planning schools at other degree levels:
View All Urban & Regional Planning Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
