2027 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning Schools in the Southeast Region

[Urban & Regional Planning](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/urban-and-regional-planning/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for urban & regional planning students.
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2027 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning Schools in the Southeast Region
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in urban & regional planning in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $17,669. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $69,502 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Central Florida one of 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, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for urban & regional planning. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $27,653 in student loans. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $22,719. That is a strong return on a $27,653 median debt. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in urban & regional planning will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $21,829. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $59,475 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value urban & regional planning schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $67,972. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #6 among the best values for urban & regional planning. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $65,697. That is a strong return on a $15,117 median debt. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University landed the #7 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, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $59,403. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
East Carolina University placed #8 among the best values for urban & regional planning. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Early-career urban & regional planning graduates make about $51,931. That is a strong return on a $24,747 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Alabama A And M University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value urban & regional planning schools. Located in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $31,896. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Alabama A And M University earn a median of $45,909 early in their careers. Set against $31,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #10 for value in urban & regional planning this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $58,018 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #11 for value in urban & regional planning this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $23,393. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $61,042. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.