2027 Best Value Urban & Regional Planning Schools in the The Plains States 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 3 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 The Plains States 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
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 best value for urban & regional planning in the The Plains States Region. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for urban & regional planning graduates is $21,577. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $63,944 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Kansas came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value urban & regional planning schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the urban & regional planning program here. Soon after graduation, urban & regional planning degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $52,241. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #3 makes Iowa State University one of the best values for urban & regional planning. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Urban & Regional Planning graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Urban & Regional Planning graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $49,419 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
