by our College Data Analytics Team
[Urban And Regional Planning](/majors/architecture-and-related-services/urban-and-regional-planning/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their urban and regional planning graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying urban and regional planning schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose urban and regional planning graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in urban and regional planning, no school beat California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Students who complete the urban and regional planning program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,106.
Students chasing top earnings in urban and regional planning will find them at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, urban and regional planning degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology typically earn about $109,410 annually.
A rank of #3 makes San Jose State University one of the highest-paying schools for urban and regional planning. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Urban And Regional Planning graduates of San Jose State University earn a median of about $91,624 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Pratt Institute Main earned it the #4 place for urban and regional planning. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the urban and regional planning program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,691.
New York University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying urban and regional planning schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Urban And Regional Planning graduates of New York University earn a median of about $95,879 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying urban and regional planning schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. After graduating, urban and regional planning degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus typically earn about $93,943 annually.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying urban and regional planning schools. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. Early-career urban and regional planning graduates from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus make a median of around $93,943 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #8 position for urban and regional planning graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Urban And Regional Planning graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $90,536 a year early in their careers.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #9 spot for urban and regional planning salaries this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Urban And Regional Planning graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of about $83,603 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California landed the #10 spot for urban and regional planning salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the urban and regional planning program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,803.
University Of California Irvine ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying urban and regional planning schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Students who complete the urban and regional planning program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,716.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for urban and regional planning. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. After graduating, urban and regional planning degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill typically earn about $88,251 annually.
University Of Arizona placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for urban and regional planning. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a public institution. Early-career urban and regional planning graduates from University Of Arizona make a median of around $72,953 per year.
University Of Florida placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for urban and regional planning. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the urban and regional planning program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,806.
University Of Louisville came in at #15 for urban and regional planning graduate earnings this year. University Of Louisville is a public school located in the city of Louisville. Early-career urban and regional planning graduates from University Of Louisville make a median of around $72,404 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #16 position for urban and regional planning graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Early-career urban and regional planning graduates from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee make a median of around $71,348 per year.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying urban and regional planning schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. Early-career urban and regional planning graduates from California State Polytechnic University Pomona make a median of around $70,849 per year.
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying urban and regional planning schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. Students who complete the urban and regional planning program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,172.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #19 position for urban and regional planning graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career urban and regional planning graduates from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus make a median of around $73,514 per year.
Temple University earned the #20 position for urban and regional planning graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. Students who complete the urban and regional planning program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,841.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #21 for urban and regional planning graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Early-career urban and regional planning graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University make a median of around $81,245 per year.
Portland State University landed the #22 spot for urban and regional planning salaries this year. Portland State University is a public school located in the city of Portland. Urban And Regional Planning graduates of Portland State University earn a median of about $79,384 a year early in their careers.
Florida State University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for urban and regional planning. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. After graduating, urban and regional planning degree recipients from Florida State University typically earn about $75,207 annually.
University Of Oregon landed the #24 spot for urban and regional planning salaries this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. Early-career urban and regional planning graduates from University Of Oregon make a median of around $81,323 per year.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying urban and regional planning schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Students who complete the urban and regional planning program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,045.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning urban and regional planning graduates:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Urban And Regional Planning rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries urban and regional planning graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 42 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
